Particle.news
Download on the App Store
22 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos-482 Set for Reentry After 53 Years in Orbit

The titanium-shielded spacecraft is predicted to survive atmospheric reentry, with its descent expected early Saturday, though its exact landing site remains uncertain.

Image
Image
Artist's concept of a satellite reentry similar to Kosmos 482 (Credit: ESA/David Ducross/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)
Image

Overview

  • Kosmos-482, a Soviet Venus probe stranded in Earth orbit since 1972, is expected to reenter the atmosphere on May 10 at approximately 2:26 a.m. EDT, with a ±4.35-hour uncertainty.
  • The spacecraft's titanium heat shield, designed for Venus's extreme conditions, makes it highly likely that the descent capsule will survive reentry intact.
  • The potential impact zone spans a wide latitude band between 52°N and 52°S, covering most of the Earth's populated regions and oceans, though the risk to human life is considered extremely low.
  • Experts emphasize that this event highlights ongoing challenges with space debris management and the need for improved tracking and mitigation protocols.
  • If recovered, the capsule could offer a rare glimpse into Cold War-era space technology, serving as a 53-year-old time capsule of Soviet engineering.