Cold war-era Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 to return after 53 years in orbit
Listen to article
A Cold War-era Soviet spacecraft is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere around May 10, marking the dramatic end of a failed mission launched more than five decades ago.
Kosmos 482, a 500-kilogram Venus lander launched by the USSR on March 31, 1972, was designed to reach the surface of Venus but never made it past Earth's orbit due to a rocket malfunction shortly after liftoff.
Originally part of the Venera program, it remained stranded in a highly elliptical orbit for 53 years.
According to Dutch satellite tracker Marco Langbroek, the capsule is now predicted to plunge through the atmosphere at roughly 242 km/h (150 mph).
The precise time and location remain uncertain, but the reentry zone spans between 52° north and 52° south latitude—covering regions from London to Cape Horn.
Built to endure the harsh conditions of Venus' dense, hot atmosphere, Kosmos 482's spherical descent capsule could survive reentry through Earth's atmosphere, experts say.
However, both Langbroek and Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell note that the risk to life is extremely low, likening it to the odds of being struck by lightning.
The capsule's heat shield could fail due to decades of exposure in orbit, causing it to burn up.
But if it remains intact, a half-ton metal object may descend at high speed. While much of the world lies in the potential reentry path, the odds favor an ocean splashdown.
Kosmos 482's return highlights growing concerns about aging space debris.
Though smaller than China's uncontrolled Long March 5B booster reentries, the event is a rare reminder of Cold War-era space missions still lingering in Earth's orbit.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
09-05-2025
- Express Tribune
China sends moon dust 'rarer than gold' to UK
Listen to article The UK has received its first sample of Moon rock in nearly 50 years, after China loaned a vial of lunar dust to Professor Mahesh Anand's lab in Milton Keynes. The 60mg sample, locked inside a safe in a high-security facility, was collected by China's Chang'e 5 mission in 2020. It is the first lunar material to reach Earth since the Soviet Luna 24 mission in 1976. 'This is more precious than gold dust,' said Prof Anand, who is the only UK scientist granted access to the material. The grains will be analysed using lasers and high-heat techniques to probe how the Moon formed and to unlock secrets of the early Earth. 'This is a great honour and a huge privilege,' said Prof Anand. 'Nobody in the world had access to China's samples.' The UK joins a select group of seven international researchers chosen to study the rare material, in a move signalling growing scientific collaboration. The Chinese mission drilled 2kg of lunar soil from Mons Rümker, a volcanic plateau, returning it in a capsule that landed in Inner Mongolia. At the Open University's facility, extreme precautions are being taken to avoid contamination. Technicians wear gowns, gloves and hoods; sticky mats clean their shoes. Earthly particles could destroy the integrity of the results. 'This is high stakes,' said lab technician Kay Knight, who will be the first to work directly on the grains. The analysis process involves vaporising the dust at 1,400°C and scanning it for carbon, nitrogen and noble gases. Other tests will determine its oxygen content using lasers. The team has one year to complete the research, which may destroy the tiny sample in the process. But Prof Anand hopes this is just the beginning. 'I hope that this is the start of long-term collaboration between China and international scientists,' he said. In 2024, China's Chang'e 6 mission brought back the first samples from the far side of the Moon, an area of growing interest for future research.
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Cold war-era Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 to return after 53 years in orbit
Listen to article A Cold War-era Soviet spacecraft is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere around May 10, marking the dramatic end of a failed mission launched more than five decades ago. Kosmos 482, a 500-kilogram Venus lander launched by the USSR on March 31, 1972, was designed to reach the surface of Venus but never made it past Earth's orbit due to a rocket malfunction shortly after liftoff. Originally part of the Venera program, it remained stranded in a highly elliptical orbit for 53 years. According to Dutch satellite tracker Marco Langbroek, the capsule is now predicted to plunge through the atmosphere at roughly 242 km/h (150 mph). The precise time and location remain uncertain, but the reentry zone spans between 52° north and 52° south latitude—covering regions from London to Cape Horn. Built to endure the harsh conditions of Venus' dense, hot atmosphere, Kosmos 482's spherical descent capsule could survive reentry through Earth's atmosphere, experts say. However, both Langbroek and Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell note that the risk to life is extremely low, likening it to the odds of being struck by lightning. The capsule's heat shield could fail due to decades of exposure in orbit, causing it to burn up. But if it remains intact, a half-ton metal object may descend at high speed. While much of the world lies in the potential reentry path, the odds favor an ocean splashdown. Kosmos 482's return highlights growing concerns about aging space debris. Though smaller than China's uncontrolled Long March 5B booster reentries, the event is a rare reminder of Cold War-era space missions still lingering in Earth's orbit.
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Soviet-era spacecraft to plunge back to earth this weekend
Listen to article A Soviet-era spacecraft launched over 50 years ago is expected to make a fiery return to Earth this weekend between 8 May and 14 May, with experts warning of a remote risk to people and property. The Kosmos 482 probe was intended to reach Venus in 1972 but suffered an engine failure, leaving it stranded in low Earth orbit. For decades, it has quietly circled the planet — until now. The spacecraft is now in its 'final death plunge', said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. While most predictions suggest the one-tonne craft will splash down harmlessly into water, McDowell said there's a slim chance it could strike land. 'There's a small but non-zero risk that it could damage property or injure someone,' McDowell said. The spherical lander, roughly one metre wide, was built to endure the extreme conditions of Venus' atmosphere, complete with a durable heat shield and parachute. As a result, it may not burn up during reentry. 'What I expect is instead of burning up and melting, it will reenter essentially undamaged,' McDowell said. The lander may hit Earth at speeds approaching 150 miles per hour if it survives the plunge. The Kosmos 482 mission originally carried scientific instruments designed to study temperature, pressure, and radiation. Though some parts separated and possibly landed in New Zealand shortly after launch, the main lander remained in orbit. The precise impact point is unknown. Satellite trackers estimate a vast potential zone stretching from Russia and Canada to southern South America. Experts continue to monitor the descent closely but emphasise that serious outcomes remain unlikely.
