Discovering Kosmos-482: A Soviet Spacecraft’s Extraordinary 53-Year Journey Back to Earth

A Soviet spacecraft called Kosmos-482 has been drifting in space for 53 years, but it’s finally set to return to Earth this weekend. Launched in March 1972, it was intended for Venus as part of a series of Soviet missions. Unfortunately, due to a rocket failure, it ended up stuck in Earth’s orbit instead.

Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell described it as a lost artifact, destined for Venus but long forgotten. Now, at the cusp of re-entry, it’s about to make a dramatic descent back to Earth—though on entirely the wrong planet. The spacecraft, which weighs about 1,050 pounds and is shielded for Venus’s harsh conditions, might well survive this unexpected plunge and land mostly intact.

Experts like Darren McKnight from LeoLabs, a company that tracks space debris, have reassured the public that the odds of injuries on the ground are minimal. He points out that large objects re-entering Earth’s atmosphere is a common occurrence, often without causing harm. “I’m not worried—there’s no need to panic,” McKnight said.

As for when Kosmos-482 will actually come back down? Predictions are shifting daily, with estimates currently suggesting it could fall back to Earth on Friday or Saturday. For ongoing updates, keep an eye on news platforms like The New York Times.

Interestingly, this event opens up discussions about space debris, a growing concern in the field of space exploration. A study by the European Space Agency reported that there are over 34,000 pieces of space debris larger than 10 centimeters orbiting Earth. This highlights the need for tracking and managing such objects to ensure safety as space activities increase.

In a time when interest in space exploration is soaring—thanks to missions like Artemis and private space travel—revisiting the fate of Kosmos-482 is a reminder of our journey and the remnants of past missions that continue to circle our planet.



Source link

Venus (Planet),USSR (Former Soviet Union),Space and Astronomy,Solar System,Roscosmos,Rocket Science and Propulsion