A Soviet spacecraft launched in 1972 is careening towards Earth, and no one knows exactly where it will land. The Kosmos 482 probe was meant to study Venus. Its mission was aborted and it ended up stuck in Earth’s orbit.
What Happens When It Comes Down?
The craft is huge – 495 kilograms. It was built to survive the extreme conditions on Venus, so it might not burn up when it hits our atmosphere. That means it could crash on land or in the sea. The impact will happen between May 9 and May 10.
Observers think the spacecraft could hit anywhere between 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south latitude. That’s a lot of territory.
The spacecraft is moving fast – around 250 km/h. If it hits something, it will cause damage. No one knows exactly where or when the impact will happen. Satellite watcher Marco Langbroek is tracking the craft. He says we just have to wait and see.
Why This Matters
This isn’t the first time a spacecraft has fallen back to Earth. But it’s a reminder that our space activities can have unintended consequences. We’re still figuring out how to deal with the stuff we send into space. For now, we’re just watching and waiting to see where Kosmos 482 ends up.