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yesterday

Soviet Kosmos 482 Probe to Reenter Earth's Atmosphere After 52 Years

The 1972 Venus mission failure is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry between May 8 and May 14, with minimal risk to populated areas.

Artist's concept of a satellite entering the Earth's atmosphere
Image
The probe could stay in one piece as it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere, but its final landing spot is anyone’s guess
This photo provided by researcher Jane Greaves shows the planet Venus, seen from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Akatsuki probe in May 2016.

Overview

  • Kosmos 482, a Soviet Venus probe launched in 1972, failed to leave Earth's orbit and has remained in a decaying trajectory for over five decades.
  • The descent capsule, built to survive Venus's harsh atmosphere, is predicted to reenter Earth's atmosphere most likely between May 10 and May 12, according to tracking experts.
  • The U.S. Space Force forecasts reentry on May 12, with the impact zone spanning between 52° North and 52° South latitude, covering a wide swath of Earth.
  • Experts assess the robust titanium shell may survive reentry, but the odds of causing harm are extremely low due to Earth's vast uninhabited areas and oceans.
  • Astrophotography has captured potential remnants, including what may be the probe's parachute, offering insights into its condition after 53 years in orbit.