Is a failed Soviet spacecraft from the Cold War era about to crash into Earth; and where could it land?

Economic Times

01-05-2025

A defunct Soviet spacecraft from 1972, originally built to land on Venus, is now hurtling back to Earth after over 50 years in orbit. Expected to reenter around May 10, 2025, the 500kg probe may survive reentry and crash like a meteorite. With no precise landing site known, the object could fall anywhere between 52°N and 52°S latitude.
As per reports, a failed Soviet spacecraft launched in 1972 is now hurtling back toward Earth after over 50 years in orbit. (Representative image)
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A Falling Star with a Soviet Soul
Danger? Not Zero—But Still Unlikely
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2025: The Year Space Objects Won't Leave Us Alone
In a storyline straight out of a sci-fi thriller, a long-forgotten Soviet space probe from 1972 is preparing to end its five-decade-long orbital journey with a fiery plunge back to Earth—and nobody knows where it will land. Dubbed as a "failed visitor" to Venus, the spacecraft was originally designed to brave the inferno of that planet's dense atmosphere. But it never got that far. After launch, it failed to break free from Earth's gravitational pull and instead became a silent, spiraling relic of the Cold War, circling our planet in low orbit for over 50 years. Now, in a twist worthy of a cosmic cliffhanger , it's about to make a dramatic reentry—and possibly, a hard landing.A report from Unilad Tech stated that according to Dutch space tracker and lecturer Dr. Marco Langbroek of Delft University of Technology, the craft—about one metre wide and weighing nearly 500 kilograms—is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere around May 10, 2025, though the precise date is still elusive. 'Our current modelling consistently suggests reentry around 9–10 May,' he shared, adding that the spacecraft's descent may resemble a meteorite crash more than a graceful descent.Unlike most space debris that burns up on reentry, this Soviet probe might survive the plunge. 'It was built to endure Venus' harsh atmospheric entry,' Dr. Langbroek explained. 'So there's a very real possibility it won't disintegrate on its way down to Earth.'And while it was originally equipped with a parachute, no one expects it to function after decades of exposure in space. If the craft does make it through the atmospheric gauntlet intact, it could slam into Earth at speeds nearing 250 kmph.Though the odds of it hitting a populated area remain low, the exact location of impact remains a nerve-racking mystery. With an orbital inclination of 51.7 degrees, the potential crash zone spans a vast belt—from the northernmost reaches of the UK to the southern shores of New Zealand.'The risks involved are not particularly high,' Langbroek noted, 'but they are certainly not zero.' The uncertainty will only narrow as the object gets closer, but even then, precise predictions might remain elusive till the final hours.This rogue satellite isn't the only celestial threat to have stirred anxiety in 2025. Earlier this year, NASA flagged a space rock with a 1-in-83 chance of colliding with Earth in 2032. Then came astronaut Chris Hadfield's warning of another asteroid with a 1-in-45 chance of impact in 2028.Now, add a half-tonne Soviet spacecraft falling from the sky to the list.In a world increasingly looking up for answers—and sometimes dangers—this relic from the space race era reminds us that even in space, the past can come back with a crash. Will it burn up in the skies, or slam into Earth with the vengeance of history? The world watches, waits, and wonders.