Latest news with #TheAerospaceCorporation
Mint
11-05-2025
- Science
- Mint
Russian spacecraft crashes back to Earth after 50 years; experts warn, ‘Don't mess with it'
Cosmos 482, an old Soviet spacecraft, likely fell from the sky early Saturday morning, according to the European Space Agency. The space object, also known as Kosmos 482, was sent toward Venus more than 50 years ago to study its environment, but it failed and instead remained trapped in Earth orbit for decades. Cosmos 482 is believed to be a capsule launched by the Soviet Union in March 1972 that failed en route to a transfer orbit that would have taken it to Venus to study its environment. In the decades since its launch, the cylinder-shaped craft of about 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter, circled Earth aimlessly as it was slowly dragged back toward home. Also Read | Should you panic? Old Soviet spacecraft to fall back to Earth after 50 years According to the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, the probe entered the dense layers of the atmosphere around 12 PM India time (2:24 a.m. ET) on Saturday, May 11, splashing down in the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta, Indonesia. The ESA, which was monitoring the falling space junk, also said on its website that radars in Germany did not spot the vehicle around 1 PM IST (3:32 a.m. ET), indicating 'it is most likely that the reentry has already occurred.' Did it burst into flames? Space traffic experts were concerned about Cosmo 483's uncontrolled re-entry to the Earth since it was no longer capable of manoeuvring. However, because of its strong heat shield, it likely did not burn up completely when it reentered Earth's atmosphere. This makes it different from most space junk, which usually breaks apart and burns before hitting the ground. 'This object was designed to survive reentering Venus, so there's fair odds that it'll survive coming back (to Earth) in one piece,' Marlon Sorge, a space debris expert with The Aerospace Corporation, told CNN. 'That actually makes the risk less … because it would stay intact.' Also Read | SpaceX loses contact with Starship 8, viral videos show scattered debris What to do if you spot debris? Marlon Sorge said that if Cosmos 482 had landed on dry ground, onlookers would have been advised to keep their distance. The aged spacecraft could leak dangerous fuels or pose other risks to people and property. 'Contact the authorities,' Sorge urged. 'Please don't mess with it.'
The Herald Scotland
10-05-2025
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
Tracking Cosmos 482's reentry: What time will it return to Earth?
Just a few weeks after its 53rd launch anniversary, Cosmos 482 is expected to descend back to Earth's atmosphere between Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, according to NASA. When and where the spacecraft will land though, remains unknown to officials. Here's what to know about Cosmos 482 and its return to Earth. When will Cosmos 482 return to Earth? Various space entities give a variety of estimates of when the spacecraft could make its return, but the latest projections center on the early morning hours of Saturday, May 10. Here are the latest projections of when the spacecraft could re-enter Earth, as of midday Friday, May 9: NASA expects Cosmos 482 to return to Earth roughly around 3:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. The European Space Agency predicts the spacecraft to return around 2:26 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. And The Aerospace Corporation, a federally-funded research and development center, predicts Cosmos 482 to re-enter Earth's orbit around 1:54 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. Where will Cosmos 482 land? Officials are unsure of where exactly Cosmos 482 will land. As of Friday, both NASA and the European Space Agency predict the spacecraft to land somewhere between 52 N and 52 S latitude, which encompasses the majority of the northern and southern hemispheres. Will you be able to see Cosmos 482's reentry? Reentries can be possible to see from the ground, but Cosmos 482's reentry visibility will be dependent on where it lands. If the spacecraft lands in the ocean or an unpopulated area, it won't be easy to spot, The Aerospace Corporation stated. If the spacecraft lands in a population area, it will need to be dark to see it best. Is Cosmos 482 a danger risk? It is unlikely that Cosmos 482 is a danger risk to humans. The spacecraft is smaller and lighter than other objects The Aerospace Corporation typically raises awareness about, the nonprofit reported. If Cosmos 482 remains fully intact as it reenters Earth's atmosphere, The Aerospace Corporation projects a risk of 0.40 in 10,000. Though it is unlikely Cosmos 482 would land in anyone's yard, The Aerospace Corporation reminds folks that if this were to happen, do not touch the spacecraft because it could be potentially hazardous. Again though, it is much more likely that Cosmos 482 will land in the ocean or an unpopulated area. What happened to Cosmos 482? Cosmos 482, also known as Kosmos 482, was one in a pair of identical Venus atmospheric lander probes that the Soviet Union launched in 1972. The other spacecraft, Venera 8, successfully arrived to Venus to make scientific measurements of the planet's soil before ceasing operation. Cosmos 482 launched four days after Venera 8 and it is believed that a malfunction resulted in an engine burn, which did not achieve the needed velocity to reach Venus' atmosphere, according to NASA. The spacecraft separated into four pieces, two of which remained in Earth's low orbit and decayed within 48 hours, and the other two pieces went into a higher orbit. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tracking Cosmos 482: When will the Soviet-era spacecraft crash to Earth?
A 50-plus-year-old Soviet-era spacecraft is expected to return to Earth this weekend. Cosmos 482 was launched to space by the Soviet Union in March 1972, with the intent of landing on Venus to conduct scientific measurements. However, an apparent engine malfunction kept the spacecraft from landing properly and since, it has remained abandoned in Earth's low-orbit. Until now. Just a few weeks after its 53rd launch anniversary, Cosmos 482 is expected to descend back to Earth's atmosphere between Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, according to NASA. When and where the spacecraft will land though, remains unknown to officials. Here's what to know about Cosmos 482 and its return to Earth. Various space entities give a variety of estimates of when the spacecraft could make its return, but the latest projections center on the early morning hours of Saturday, May 10. Here are the latest projections of when the spacecraft could re-enter Earth, as of midday Friday, May 9: NASA expects Cosmos 482 to return to Earth roughly around 3:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. The European Space Agency predicts the spacecraft to return around 2:26 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. And The Aerospace Corporation, a federally-funded research and development center, predicts Cosmos 482 to re-enter Earth's orbit around 1:54 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. Officials are unsure of where exactly Cosmos 482 will land. As of Friday, both NASA and the European Space Agency predict the spacecraft to land somewhere between 52 N and 52 S latitude, which encompasses the majority of the northern and southern hemispheres. Reentries can be possible to see from the ground, but Cosmos 482's reentry visibility will be dependent on where it lands. If the spacecraft lands in the ocean or an unpopulated area, it won't be easy to spot, The Aerospace Corporation stated. If the spacecraft lands in a population area, it will need to be dark to see it best. It is unlikely that Cosmos 482 is a danger risk to humans. The spacecraft is smaller and lighter than other objects The Aerospace Corporation typically raises awareness about, the nonprofit reported. If Cosmos 482 remains fully intact as it reenters Earth's atmosphere, The Aerospace Corporation projects a risk of 0.40 in 10,000. Though it is unlikely Cosmos 482 would land in anyone's yard, The Aerospace Corporation reminds folks that if this were to happen, do not touch the spacecraft because it could be potentially hazardous. Again though, it is much more likely that Cosmos 482 will land in the ocean or an unpopulated area. Cosmos 482, also known as Kosmos 482, was one in a pair of identical Venus atmospheric lander probes that the Soviet Union launched in 1972. The other spacecraft, Venera 8, successfully arrived to Venus to make scientific measurements of the planet's soil before ceasing operation. Cosmos 482 launched four days after Venera 8 and it is believed that a malfunction resulted in an engine burn, which did not achieve the needed velocity to reach Venus' atmosphere, according to NASA. The spacecraft separated into four pieces, two of which remained in Earth's low orbit and decayed within 48 hours, and the other two pieces went into a higher orbit. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Soviet-era spacecraft dropping out of orbit to crash land on Earth
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tracking Cosmos 482: When will the Soviet-era spacecraft return to Earth?
A 50-plus-year-old Soviet-era spacecraft is expected to return to Earth this weekend. Cosmos 482 was launched to space by the Soviet Union in March 1972, with the intent of landing on Venus to conduct scientific measurements. However, an apparent engine malfunction kept the spacecraft from landing properly and since, it has remained abandoned in Earth's low-orbit. Until now. Just a few weeks after its 53rd launch anniversary, Cosmos 482 is expected to descend back to Earth's atmosphere between Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, according to NASA. When and where the spacecraft will land though, remains unknown to officials. Here's what to know about Cosmos 482 and its return to Earth. Various space entities give a variety of estimates of when the spacecraft could make its return, but the latest projections center on the early morning hours of Saturday, May 10. Here are the latest projections of when the spacecraft could re-enter Earth, as of midday Friday, May 9: NASA expects Cosmos 482 to return to Earth roughly around 3:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. The European Space Agency predicts the spacecraft to return around 2:26 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. And The Aerospace Corporation, a federally-funded research and development center, predicts Cosmos 482 to re-enter Earth's orbit around 1:54 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. Officials are unsure of where exactly Cosmos 482 will land. As of Friday, both NASA and the European Space Agency predict the spacecraft to land somewhere between 52 N and 52 S latitude, which encompasses the majority of the northern and southern hemispheres. Reentries can be possible to see from the ground, but Cosmos 482's reentry visibility will be dependent on where it lands. If the spacecraft lands in the ocean or an unpopulated area, it won't be easy to spot, The Aerospace Corporation stated. If the spacecraft lands in a population area, it will need to be dark to see it best. It is unlikely that Cosmos 482 is a danger risk to humans. The spacecraft is smaller and lighter than other objects The Aerospace Corporation typically raises awareness about, the nonprofit reported. If Cosmos 482 remains fully intact as it reenters Earth's atmosphere, The Aerospace Corporation projects a risk of 0.40 in 10,000. Though it is unlikely Cosmos 482 would land in anyone's yard, The Aerospace Corporation reminds folks that if this were to happen, do not touch the spacecraft because it could be potentially hazardous. Again though, it is much more likely that Cosmos 482 will land in the ocean or an unpopulated area. Cosmos 482, also known as Kosmos 482, was one in a pair of identical Venus atmospheric lander probes that the Soviet Union launched in 1972. The other spacecraft, Venera 8, successfully arrived to Venus to make scientific measurements of the planet's soil before ceasing operation. Cosmos 482 launched four days after Venera 8 and it is believed that a malfunction resulted in an engine burn, which did not achieve the needed velocity to reach Venus' atmosphere, according to NASA. The spacecraft separated into four pieces, two of which remained in Earth's low orbit and decayed within 48 hours, and the other two pieces went into a higher orbit. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tracking Cosmos 482's reentry: What time will it return to Earth?
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Tracking Cosmos 482: When will the Soviet-era spacecraft return to Earth?
Tracking Cosmos 482: When will the Soviet-era spacecraft return to Earth? Cosmos 482's reentry is expected to occur in the early hours of Saturday, May 10, according to multiple space organizations. Show Caption Hide Caption Soviet-era spacecraft to reenter Earth's atmosphere after 50 years A Soviet-era spacecraft is set to reenter Earth's atmosphere more than 50 years after a failed mission to Venus. unbranded - Newsworthy A 50-plus-year-old Soviet-era spacecraft is expected to return to Earth this weekend. Cosmos 482 was launched to space by the Soviet Union in March 1972, with the intent of landing on Venus to conduct scientific measurements. However, an apparent engine malfunction kept the spacecraft from landing properly and since, it has remained abandoned in Earth's low-orbit. Until now. Just a few weeks after its 53rd launch anniversary, Cosmos 482 is expected to descend back to Earth's atmosphere between Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10, according to NASA. When and where the spacecraft will land though, remains unknown to officials. Here's what to know about Cosmos 482 and its return to Earth. When will Cosmos 482 return to Earth? Various space entities give a variety of estimates of when the spacecraft could make its return, but the latest projections center on the early morning hours of Saturday, May 10. Here are the latest projections of when the spacecraft could re-enter Earth, as of midday Friday, May 9: NASA expects Cosmos 482 to return to Earth roughly around 3:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. The European Space Agency predicts the spacecraft to return around 2:26 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. And The Aerospace Corporation, a federally-funded research and development center, predicts Cosmos 482 to re-enter Earth's orbit around 1:54 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 10. Where will Cosmos 482 land? Officials are unsure of where exactly Cosmos 482 will land. As of Friday, both NASA and the European Space Agency predict the spacecraft to land somewhere between 52 N and 52 S latitude, which encompasses the majority of the northern and southern hemispheres. Will you be able to see Cosmos 482's reentry? Reentries can be possible to see from the ground, but Cosmos 482's reentry visibility will be dependent on where it lands. If the spacecraft lands in the ocean or an unpopulated area, it won't be easy to spot, The Aerospace Corporation stated. If the spacecraft lands in a population area, it will need to be dark to see it best. Is Cosmos 482 a danger risk? It is unlikely that Cosmos 482 is a danger risk to humans. The spacecraft is smaller and lighter than other objects The Aerospace Corporation typically raises awareness about, the nonprofit reported. If Cosmos 482 remains fully intact as it reenters Earth's atmosphere, The Aerospace Corporation projects a risk of 0.40 in 10,000. Though it is unlikely Cosmos 482 would land in anyone's yard, The Aerospace Corporation reminds folks that if this were to happen, do not touch the spacecraft because it could be potentially hazardous. Again though, it is much more likely that Cosmos 482 will land in the ocean or an unpopulated area. What happened to Cosmos 482? Cosmos 482, also known as Kosmos 482, was one in a pair of identical Venus atmospheric lander probes that the Soviet Union launched in 1972. The other spacecraft, Venera 8, successfully arrived to Venus to make scientific measurements of the planet's soil before ceasing operation. Cosmos 482 launched four days after Venera 8 and it is believed that a malfunction resulted in an engine burn, which did not achieve the needed velocity to reach Venus' atmosphere, according to NASA. The spacecraft separated into four pieces, two of which remained in Earth's low orbit and decayed within 48 hours, and the other two pieces went into a higher orbit. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
