A Soviet spacecraft, Kosmos 482, which launched in 1972 as part of the Venera program to probe Venus, is believed to have crashed back to Earth early Saturday morning after a failed mission. The European Space Agency (ESA) monitored the spacecraft’s uncontrolled descent, last tracking it via radar over Germany. As it approached Earth, the radar lost detection, leading to the conclusion that reentry likely occurred without any reported injuries or damages.
Kosmos 482 was designed to survive the harsh conditions of Venus’ atmosphere and surface temperatures averaging 867 degrees Fahrenheit. After malfunctioning in its initial mission, the craft remained in low Earth orbit for 53 years, gradually spiraling closer to Earth until its eventual reentry.
The phenomenon of space debris reentering Earth’s atmosphere is not uncommon; in 2022 alone, over 2,400 human-made objects fell back to Earth, most disintegrating upon entry. ESA noted that while some debris might not burn completely and could land in oceans, injuries from reentry events are extremely rare. The risk of harm from such events is estimated at under 1 in 100 billion, making it significantly less likely than being struck by lightning, which is about 65,000 times more probable.
Prior to its reentry, the U.S. Space Force predicted the spacecraft would enter the atmosphere at 1:52 a.m. ET, specifically above the Pacific Ocean, west of Guam. Despite the potential concerns surrounding space debris, ESA officials emphasized the minimal risk to human safety from such occurrences.
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