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last mo.

Cosmos 482 Reentry Sparks Conflicting Reports on Final Fate

The Soviet-era probe, launched in 1972 for a failed Venus mission, reentered Earth's atmosphere on May 10, with ESA reporting probable disintegration and Roscosmos claiming an ocean crash.

Cosmos-482, ce vaisseau spatial soviétique lancé en 1972, était destiné à atterrir sur Vénus.
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Overview

  • Cosmos 482, launched in 1972, failed to leave low Earth orbit and remained there for over 50 years before its uncontrolled reentry on May 10, 2025.
  • The European Space Agency (ESA) stated that the probe likely disintegrated during reentry at 8:16 CET, citing radar tracking data.
  • Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, claimed the probe entered the atmosphere at 8:24 CET and landed in the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta.
  • The probe's durable landing capsule, designed to withstand Venus's extreme conditions, raised questions about whether it survived reentry intact.
  • Experts emphasize the minimal risk to human safety from falling debris but highlight growing concerns over the management of orbital space junk.