Overview

• Cosmos 482, a Soviet spacecraft launched in 1972 to explore Venus, failed to leave Earth's orbit and has remained in space for over five decades.
• The spacecraft's descent module, weighing approximately 1,100 pounds and built with a durable heat shield, is now expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere on May 9–10, 2025.
• The reentry zone spans latitudes between 52°N and 52°S, covering a wide area of the globe, but the exact impact point will remain unpredictable until hours before descent.
• Experts suggest the module could survive reentry and impact Earth's surface or ocean at speeds up to 155 mph, with a low but non-zero risk of debris hitting populated areas.
• Under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, Russia is legally responsible for the spacecraft, highlighting broader concerns about space debris and the need for mitigation efforts.