Soviet-era Kosmos 482 spacecraft set for uncontrolled reentry after 50 years in orbit
A Soviet-era spacecraft, originally intended for a mission to Venus, is expected to plunge back to Earth in an uncontrolled re-entry after spending more than 50 years in orbit. The spacecraft, Kosmos 482, was launched on March 31, 1972, but failed to escape Earth’s gravity due to a rocket malfunction, leaving it stranded in low Earth orbit.
Kosmos 482 was part of the Soviet Union’s Venera program, which aimed to send probes to Venus to study its atmosphere and surface conditions. While its twin mission, Venera 8, successfully landed on Venus, Kosmos 482 suffered a technical failure in its upper-stage rocket, preventing it from reaching its destination.
Most of the spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere within a decade, but a lander module, weighing approximately 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds), remained in orbit. Over the years, atmospheric drag has gradually pulled it closer to Earth, and experts predict its final descent will occur around May 10, 2025.
The exact reentry location remains uncertain, as the spacecraft is tumbling unpredictably. Experts estimate it could land anywhere between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude, covering a vast area that includes North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of South America.
Dutch satellite tracker Marco Langbroek has warned that some parts of the spacecraft may survive reentry, given its heavy-duty titanium construction, which was originally designed to withstand the extreme heat and pressure of Venus’ atmosphere. If the lander remains intact, it could impact Earth at a speed of approximately 242 kilometers per hour (150 mph).
Despite concerns, space analysts assure that the risk to human life is minimal. The odds of someone being hit by Kosmos 482 are lower than being struck by lightning, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
However, experts caution that if the spacecraft crashes in a populated area, it could cause damage to infrastructure. The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA are closely monitoring its trajectory to provide last-minute forecasts before reentry.
Kosmos 482 represents a bygone era of Soviet space exploration, when the USSR aggressively pursued planetary missions to demonstrate scientific superiority. While the spacecraft failed to reach Venus, its unexpected return to Earth serves as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of space debris.
