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2d ago

Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos 482 Nears Uncontrolled Reentry After 53 Years

The spacecraft, stranded in Earth's orbit since 1972, is expected to reenter the atmosphere between May 8 and May 12, with its impact location and timing still uncertain.

An earlier Soviet spaceship, Venera 8, that was launched toward Venus in 1972. Kosmos 482 looked similar.
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Overview

  • Kosmos 482, a Soviet-era Venus probe, failed to leave Earth's orbit in 1972 due to a rocket malfunction and has been in a decaying orbit for over five decades.
  • The spacecraft's reentry window is predicted between May 8 and May 12, 2025, with the impact zone spanning latitudes 52°N to 52°S, covering much of the inhabited world.
  • Experts warn that the probe's Venus-grade heat shielding may allow parts of the 500kg descent module to survive reentry and reach the surface intact.
  • The chance of the spacecraft causing harm or damage is low but not zero, with predictions narrowing in the final hours before reentry.
  • This event highlights ongoing challenges in managing space debris, with Kosmos 482 remaining Russia's responsibility under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.