A spacecraft from the 1970s could crash-land on Earth in May
A Soviet spacecraft that has been circling Earth for over 50 years is set to reenter the planet's atmosphere next month and could crash into Earth's surface, according to EarthSky.org.
Kosmos 482 launched on March 31, 1972, charting a course for the planet Venus, according to the astronomy website. The 3.2-foot-wide, 1,091-pound landing module successfully established a temporary orbit around Earth, but a problem with a timer stopped an engine burn too early, preventing it from being able to leave the planet's orbit.
After 53 years, the spacecraft is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere sometime between May 8 and 11, according to EarthSky.org. The astronomy website will predict a more precise reentry date in the coming days.
While it is unlikely that Kosmos 482 will reenter Earth's atmosphere over a populated area or even over land at all, since it was built to withstand rapid acceleration, extreme heat and high pressure, most of it could reach the planet's surface — even if it's not intact, according to EarthSky.org.
The spacecraft may be visible around dawn and dusk in some areas as it continues to orbit Earth, according to the astronomy website. It would look like a dim, moving satellite.
In the unlikely event that Kosmos 482 reenters Earth's atmosphere above your location, it will be visible, according to EarthSky.org. The spacecraft would look like a bright and slow meteor.
EarthSky.org will share more information on Kosmos 482's reentry in the coming days.
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