Kosmos 482, weighing 500kg, was meant to land on Venus in the 1970s but it never made it out of orbit because of a rocket malfunction
A Soviet-era spacecraft meant to land on Venus in the 1970s is expected to soon plunge uncontrolled back to Earth.
It’s too early to know where the half-ton mass of metal might come down or how much of it will survive re-entry, according to space debris-tracking experts.
Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek predicts the failed spacecraft will re-enter about 10 May. He estimates it will come crashing in at 150mph (242km/h), if it remains intact.
“While not without risk, we should not be too worried,” Langbroek said in an email.
The object is relatively small and, even if it doesn’t break apart, “the risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, several of which happen each year. You run a bigger risk of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime,” he said.
Scientists Warn: A Soviet Spacecraft May Crash to Earth
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 2, 2025
The object in question is Kosmos 482, launched back in 1972. It was intended to travel to Venus, but due to a malfunction, it remained in Earth's orbit.
Now, the aging spacecraft, weighing around 500 kg, has begun… pic.twitter.com/1YJMnDXOSV
