MOSCOW, Russia — A historic piece of space history is on the brink of reentering Earth’s atmosphere. The Kosmos 482 lander, initially launched by the Soviet Union in 1972 with the goal of landing on Venus, has been stranded in Earth’s orbit for more than five decades due to a launch anomaly. Set to reenter at approximately 1:54 a.m. ET on May 10, the probe presents a low-risk scenario for debris falling on the planet’s surface.
The craft, which is encased in a 3.3-foot-wide titanium shell and equipped with thermal insulation meant for Venus’ extreme heat, weighs around 1,190 pounds. As Kosmos 482 descends, its exact landing site remains uncertain, with predictions indicating a potential fall anywhere between 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south latitude, covering a significant portion of Earth’s landmass.
Experts, including those from The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies (CORDS), believe the chances of harm to individuals are minimal. “71% of Earth’s surface is water, and much of the remainder is sparsely populated,” CORDS noted in a recent report. The organization emphasizes that individual risk from this incident is far lower than the average odds of being struck by lightning.
While some enthusiasts have captured images of Kosmos 482 in orbit, a Dutch satellite tracker suggested that speculation about potential parachute deployment may have been overstated. Marco Langbroek remarked that features observed in these images are likely due to atmospheric disturbance rather than evidence of impending reentry mechanisms.
This reentry marks a peculiar event in the legacy of the Soviet Venera program, which made significant strides in Venus exploration, including the successful landing of Venera 7 in 1970 and the delivery of the first color images from the planet by Venera 13 in 1982. As Kosmos 482 nears reentry, it piques the interest of both scientists and space enthusiasts alike.
As tracking continues, observers are reminded that although the probe’s descent may be a historic moment, it is not expected to contribute significantly to the issues of space debris plaguing Earth’s orbit. Scientists will monitor the situation closely, using both telescopic and satellite data to glean insights from this extraordinary occurrence.