Overview

• Kosmos 482, launched in 1972 as part of the Soviet Venera program to explore Venus, failed to leave Earth's orbit due to a booster malfunction.
• The spacecraft reentered Earth's atmosphere on May 10, 2025, and is believed to have fallen into the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta, according to Roscosmos.
• Designed to withstand Venus's extreme conditions, the titanium-encased lander likely survived reentry largely intact, though no debris has been recovered or confirmed.
• The reentry was monitored by multiple agencies, including Roscosmos, ESA, EU SST, and U.S. Space Command, which tracked its unpredictable descent.
• Under international space law, any surviving fragments remain the property of Russia, highlighting ongoing concerns about space debris and reentry governance.