Failed Soviet-era spacecraft from 1972 set to plunge uncontrolled back to Earth
The Kosmos 482 was one of a series of Soviet Venus missions, but never made it out of Earth’s orbit
A Soviet-era spacecraft meant to land on Venus in the 1970s was expected to soon plunge uncontrolled back to Earth.
It was too early to know where the half-tonne mass of metal might come down or how much of it would survive re-entry, according to space debris-tracking experts.
Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek predicted the failed spacecraft would re-enter around May 10. He estimated it would come crashing in about 242km/h (150mph) if it remained intact.
“While not without risk, we should not be too worried,” Langbroek said in an email.
The object was relatively small and, even if it does not break apart, “the risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, several of which happen each year. You run a bigger risk of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime,” he said.