Watch Out! Old Soviet Spacecraft Set to Plummet to Earth in May 2025: What You Need to Know

An intriguing event is on the horizon: the reentry of the Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482. This unique space vehicle, launched on March 31, 1972, was initially headed for Venus. However, a timing issue during its mission meant it stayed in orbit around Earth. After 53 years, it is set to fall back to our planet between May 8 and 11, 2025.

As the reentry date approaches, experts will be more precise about when it will happen. One interesting factor influencing the timing is solar activity. When the sun is very active, it heats our upper atmosphere, causing it to expand. This expansion creates more drag on objects in low orbit, potentially speeding up their descent.

Determining the exact location of its reentry is tricky. Current estimates suggest it will occur anywhere between 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south. However, since our planet is mostly covered by water, it’s likely that the spacecraft will reenter over the ocean.

A key concern with Kosmos 482 is its design. Built to endure extreme conditions, it resembles the Venera landers that explored Venus. This means that even if the spacecraft breaks apart during reentry, some debris might survive the landing. Weighing about 1,091 pounds (495 kg) and measuring around 3.2 feet (1 meter) in diameter, its impact could hit speeds of about 150 miles per hour (242 km/h) as it reaches the Earth’s surface, according to satellite expert Marco Langbroek.

If you’re interested in observing Kosmos 482 as it orbits, you might catch glimpses of it just after sunset or before dawn, depending on your location. It may brighten as the reentry date approaches. You can find viewing information on Heavens-Above.com by selecting the right filters to check for passing visibility.

During its reentry, if you happen to be in the right location, it will likely appear like a slow, bright meteor, possibly fragmenting as it descends. This is a rare opportunity to see a piece of space history falling back to Earth.

As we continue to track Kosmos 482, we’ll share updates on its journey. This old Soviet spacecraft, a remnant of past explorations, reminds us of how far we’ve come and the wonders of space exploration.

For more on how spacecraft reentries impact our atmosphere, check out this [insightful article](https://earthsky.org/space/space-vehicle-reentries-shed-exotic-metal-particles-to-earths-atmosphere).

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