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3mo ago

Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos 482 Reenters Earth After 53 Years in Orbit

The spacecraft splashed down in the Indian Ocean on May 10, but uncertainties remain about its final descent and debris recovery.

Cosmos 482’s mission was to land on the surface of Venus. Instead, it fell back to Earth more than a half-century after it launched. Credit: NASA/JPL
A Soviet Venera-4 model, similar to the lost Kosmos 482 landing capsule, is on display at a museum.
Soviet Venus probe may reenter Earth around May 10, 2025
Kosmos 482 imaged in orbit; parachute possibly visible

Overview

  • Kosmos 482, launched in 1972 as part of the Soviet Venera program, failed its Venus mission and remained in Earth orbit for over five decades.
  • The probe reentered Earth's atmosphere on May 10, 2025, with Roscosmos reporting a splashdown west of Jakarta in the Indian Ocean.
  • Tracking agencies, including ESA and the U.S. Space Force, provided conflicting reentry timings, reflecting challenges in precise space debris monitoring.
  • Experts believe the Venus-grade lander likely survived reentry intact, descending at an estimated 200 mph, though no debris has been recovered or observed.
  • The event highlights ongoing concerns about space debris management and the risks posed by durable, uncontrolled reentries of aging spacecraft.