Soviet-era Venus Mission Spacecraft Expected to Reenter Earth Soon
The Soviet Union launched the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 in 1972, part of a series of Venus missions. However, it never made it out of Earth orbit due to a rocket malfunction. Most of the spacecraft came tumbling down within a decade. But experts believe the landing capsule, a spherical object about 3 feet in diameter, has been circling the world in a highly elliptical orbit for the past 53 years, gradually dropping in altitude.
Experts predict the failed spacecraft will reenter around May 10, with a speed of 150 mph (242 kph) if it remains intact. While not without risk, the object is relatively small and the risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, which happens several times a year. The chance of the spacecraft hitting someone or something is small, but it cannot be completely excluded.
The spacecraft could reenter anywhere between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude, or as far north as London and Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, almost all the way down to South America’s Cape Horn. Since most of the planet is water, "chances are good it will indeed end up in some ocean," according to experts.
Reference : https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/soviet-era-spacecraft-set-to-plunge-to-earth-half-century-after-failed-launch/article69533439.ece
