Soviet-era probe meant for Venus crashes off Indonesia
The Russian space agency Roscosmos said the spacecraft, known as Kosmos 482, entered the atmosphere at 4.24pm AEST before hitting the waters west of Jakarta, Indonesia.
No information was provided on potential damage or debris.
The European Space Agency also concluded that re-entry had likely occurred.
Between 1961 and 1983, the Soviet Union sent several probes to Venus as part of the Verena program to explore the planet.
While several succeeded in landing on the planet's surface and transmitting data back to earth, Kosmos 482 went astray shortly after lift-off.
Kosmos 482 was launched on March 31, 1972 and was scheduled to make a controlled landing on Venus.
However, due to a failure of the launch vehicle, the capsule failed to escape the earth's gravity and has been orbiting the planet for 53 years.
"The device was launched to explore Venus but remained in a high elliptical orbit around earth due to a malfunction in the upper stage and gradually approached the planet," Roscosmos said.
The probe's descent was monitored by an automated system designed to detect hazards in near-earth space, according to the agency.
Weighing nearly 500kg and measuring about a metre in diameter, the probe's crash had been widely anticipated by space agencies although its final landing site had remained uncertain.
Before Saturday's uncontrolled return to earth, experts had warned the spacecraft could survive re-entry intact due to its robust construction, originally built to withstand the harsh descent through Venus's atmosphere.
However, Roscosmos stated that "Kosmos 482 no longer exists".
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Russian volcano erupts for first time in centuries
A volcano on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for what scientists said is the first time in hundreds of years, days after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake. The Krasheninnikov volcano sent ash six kilometres into the sky, according to staff at the Kronotsky Reserve, where the volcano is located. Images released by state media showed dense clouds of ash rising above the volcano. "The plume is spreading eastward from the volcano toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path, and no ashfall has been recorded in inhabited localities," Kamchatka's emergencies ministry wrote on Telegram during the eruption. The eruption was accompanied by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and prompted a tsunami warning for three areas of Kamchatka. The tsunami warning was later lifted by Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services. "This is the first historically-confirmed eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years," Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, based in the US, however, lists Krasheninnikov's last eruption as occurring 475 years ago in 1550. The reason for the discrepancy was not clear. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team said late Sunday that the volcano's activity was decreasing but that "moderate explosive activity" could continue. The eruption occurred after a huge earthquake struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that caused small tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska and prompted warnings for Hawaii, North and Central America and Pacific islands south toward New Zealand. A volcano on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for what scientists said is the first time in hundreds of years, days after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake. The Krasheninnikov volcano sent ash six kilometres into the sky, according to staff at the Kronotsky Reserve, where the volcano is located. Images released by state media showed dense clouds of ash rising above the volcano. "The plume is spreading eastward from the volcano toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path, and no ashfall has been recorded in inhabited localities," Kamchatka's emergencies ministry wrote on Telegram during the eruption. The eruption was accompanied by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and prompted a tsunami warning for three areas of Kamchatka. The tsunami warning was later lifted by Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services. "This is the first historically-confirmed eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years," Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, based in the US, however, lists Krasheninnikov's last eruption as occurring 475 years ago in 1550. The reason for the discrepancy was not clear. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team said late Sunday that the volcano's activity was decreasing but that "moderate explosive activity" could continue. The eruption occurred after a huge earthquake struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that caused small tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska and prompted warnings for Hawaii, North and Central America and Pacific islands south toward New Zealand. A volcano on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for what scientists said is the first time in hundreds of years, days after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake. The Krasheninnikov volcano sent ash six kilometres into the sky, according to staff at the Kronotsky Reserve, where the volcano is located. Images released by state media showed dense clouds of ash rising above the volcano. "The plume is spreading eastward from the volcano toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path, and no ashfall has been recorded in inhabited localities," Kamchatka's emergencies ministry wrote on Telegram during the eruption. The eruption was accompanied by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and prompted a tsunami warning for three areas of Kamchatka. The tsunami warning was later lifted by Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services. "This is the first historically-confirmed eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years," Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, based in the US, however, lists Krasheninnikov's last eruption as occurring 475 years ago in 1550. The reason for the discrepancy was not clear. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team said late Sunday that the volcano's activity was decreasing but that "moderate explosive activity" could continue. The eruption occurred after a huge earthquake struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that caused small tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska and prompted warnings for Hawaii, North and Central America and Pacific islands south toward New Zealand. A volcano on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for what scientists said is the first time in hundreds of years, days after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake. The Krasheninnikov volcano sent ash six kilometres into the sky, according to staff at the Kronotsky Reserve, where the volcano is located. Images released by state media showed dense clouds of ash rising above the volcano. "The plume is spreading eastward from the volcano toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path, and no ashfall has been recorded in inhabited localities," Kamchatka's emergencies ministry wrote on Telegram during the eruption. The eruption was accompanied by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and prompted a tsunami warning for three areas of Kamchatka. The tsunami warning was later lifted by Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services. "This is the first historically-confirmed eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years," Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, based in the US, however, lists Krasheninnikov's last eruption as occurring 475 years ago in 1550. The reason for the discrepancy was not clear. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team said late Sunday that the volcano's activity was decreasing but that "moderate explosive activity" could continue. The eruption occurred after a huge earthquake struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that caused small tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska and prompted warnings for Hawaii, North and Central America and Pacific islands south toward New Zealand.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Russian volcano erupts for first time in centuries
A volcano on Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for what scientists said is the first time in hundreds of years, days after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake. The Krasheninnikov volcano sent ash six kilometres into the sky, according to staff at the Kronotsky Reserve, where the volcano is located. Images released by state media showed dense clouds of ash rising above the volcano. "The plume is spreading eastward from the volcano toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no populated areas along its path, and no ashfall has been recorded in inhabited localities," Kamchatka's emergencies ministry wrote on Telegram during the eruption. The eruption was accompanied by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and prompted a tsunami warning for three areas of Kamchatka. The tsunami warning was later lifted by Russia's Ministry for Emergency Services. "This is the first historically-confirmed eruption of the Krasheninnikov volcano in 600 years," Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, based in the US, however, lists Krasheninnikov's last eruption as occurring 475 years ago in 1550. The reason for the discrepancy was not clear. The Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team said late Sunday that the volcano's activity was decreasing but that "moderate explosive activity" could continue. The eruption occurred after a huge earthquake struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that caused small tsunami waves in Japan and Alaska and prompted warnings for Hawaii, North and Central America and Pacific islands south toward New Zealand.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
SpaceX propels astronauts to space station in 15 hours
SpaceX has delivered a fresh crew to the International Space Station, making the trip in a quick 15 hours. The four US, Russian and Japanese astronauts pulled up in their SpaceX capsule on Saturday after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. They will spend at least six months at the orbiting lab, swapping places with colleagues there since March. SpaceX will bring those four back as early as Wednesday. Moving in are NASA's Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov - each of whom were originally assigned to other missions. "Hello, space station!" Fincke radioed as soon as the capsule docked high above the South Pacific. Cardman and another astronaut were pulled from a SpaceX flight in 2024 to make room for NASA's two stuck astronauts, Boeing Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose space station stay went from one week to more than nine months. Fincke and Yui had been training for the next Starliner mission but with Starliner grounded by thruster and other problems until 2026, the two switched to SpaceX. Platonov was bumped from the Soyuz launch line-up a couple of years ago because of an undisclosed illness. Their arrival temporarily puts the space station population at 11. The astronauts greeting them had cold drinks and hot food waiting for them. While their taxi flight was speedy by US standards, the Russians hold the record for the fastest trip to the space station - a lightning-fast three hours. SpaceX has delivered a fresh crew to the International Space Station, making the trip in a quick 15 hours. The four US, Russian and Japanese astronauts pulled up in their SpaceX capsule on Saturday after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. They will spend at least six months at the orbiting lab, swapping places with colleagues there since March. SpaceX will bring those four back as early as Wednesday. Moving in are NASA's Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov - each of whom were originally assigned to other missions. "Hello, space station!" Fincke radioed as soon as the capsule docked high above the South Pacific. Cardman and another astronaut were pulled from a SpaceX flight in 2024 to make room for NASA's two stuck astronauts, Boeing Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose space station stay went from one week to more than nine months. Fincke and Yui had been training for the next Starliner mission but with Starliner grounded by thruster and other problems until 2026, the two switched to SpaceX. Platonov was bumped from the Soyuz launch line-up a couple of years ago because of an undisclosed illness. Their arrival temporarily puts the space station population at 11. The astronauts greeting them had cold drinks and hot food waiting for them. While their taxi flight was speedy by US standards, the Russians hold the record for the fastest trip to the space station - a lightning-fast three hours. SpaceX has delivered a fresh crew to the International Space Station, making the trip in a quick 15 hours. The four US, Russian and Japanese astronauts pulled up in their SpaceX capsule on Saturday after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. They will spend at least six months at the orbiting lab, swapping places with colleagues there since March. SpaceX will bring those four back as early as Wednesday. Moving in are NASA's Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov - each of whom were originally assigned to other missions. "Hello, space station!" Fincke radioed as soon as the capsule docked high above the South Pacific. Cardman and another astronaut were pulled from a SpaceX flight in 2024 to make room for NASA's two stuck astronauts, Boeing Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose space station stay went from one week to more than nine months. Fincke and Yui had been training for the next Starliner mission but with Starliner grounded by thruster and other problems until 2026, the two switched to SpaceX. Platonov was bumped from the Soyuz launch line-up a couple of years ago because of an undisclosed illness. Their arrival temporarily puts the space station population at 11. The astronauts greeting them had cold drinks and hot food waiting for them. While their taxi flight was speedy by US standards, the Russians hold the record for the fastest trip to the space station - a lightning-fast three hours. SpaceX has delivered a fresh crew to the International Space Station, making the trip in a quick 15 hours. The four US, Russian and Japanese astronauts pulled up in their SpaceX capsule on Saturday after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. They will spend at least six months at the orbiting lab, swapping places with colleagues there since March. SpaceX will bring those four back as early as Wednesday. Moving in are NASA's Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov - each of whom were originally assigned to other missions. "Hello, space station!" Fincke radioed as soon as the capsule docked high above the South Pacific. Cardman and another astronaut were pulled from a SpaceX flight in 2024 to make room for NASA's two stuck astronauts, Boeing Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose space station stay went from one week to more than nine months. Fincke and Yui had been training for the next Starliner mission but with Starliner grounded by thruster and other problems until 2026, the two switched to SpaceX. Platonov was bumped from the Soyuz launch line-up a couple of years ago because of an undisclosed illness. Their arrival temporarily puts the space station population at 11. The astronauts greeting them had cold drinks and hot food waiting for them. While their taxi flight was speedy by US standards, the Russians hold the record for the fastest trip to the space station - a lightning-fast three hours.
