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Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos 482 Reenters Earth After 53 Years, Splashdown Location Disputed

Roscosmos claims the probe landed in the Indian Ocean on May 10, but ESA and U.S. Space Force report conflicting reentry times and locations.

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
Soviet Venus probe may reenter Earth around May 10, 2025

Overview

  • Kosmos 482, a Soviet probe launched in 1972 for a Venus mission, reentered Earth's atmosphere on May 10, 2025, after 53 years in orbit.
  • Roscosmos reported the spacecraft splashed down west of Jakarta in the Indian Ocean around 2:24 a.m. ET, but no debris has been recovered so far.
  • The European Space Agency (ESA) and U.S. Space Force provided conflicting reentry times, ranging from 1:20 a.m. to 2:16 a.m. ET, leaving the exact splashdown site uncertain.
  • Built to survive Venus's harsh environment, the probe's robust design likely allowed parts of it to withstand the heat of reentry intact.
  • Experts emphasize that the risk to people or property was minimal, with no reported sightings of the descent or confirmed debris recovery.