Soviet Kosmos 482 spacecraft crashes into an unknown site on Earth
Share this @internewscast.com

A Soviet spacecraft launched in 1972 on a failed mission to Venus is believed to have crashed back onto Earth early on Saturday morning.

The European Space Agency, tasked with tracking the spacecraft’s uncontrolled fall, reported that its last radar detection of the craft was over Germany. By the expected crash time, radar had lost track of Kosmos 482, leading to the conclusion that “reentry is most likely to have already happened.”

No injuries or damage have been reported.

Kosmos 482 was a part of the USSR’s Venera program, a mission series aimed at exploring Venus. Out of these missions, ten successfully reached and landed on the scorched, desolate planet. However, the launch of Kosmos 482 faced a malfunction, trapping the upper stage carrying the descent module in Earth’s orbit.

For fifty-three years, the nearly three-foot wide, 1,069-pound spacecraft continued to revolve around Earth in a shrinking elliptical orbit until it finally descended into the planet’s atmosphere.

It’s not unusual for space junk to fall back to earth. More than 2,400 human-made objects fell from space in 2022, a record number, according to ESA. The vast majority of them burned up in Earth’s atmosphere, and most of those that didn’t splashed into an ocean.

But Kosmos 482 was built to withstand a descent through Venus’ dense atmosphere, and to operate on the planet’s surface, where the mean temperature is 867 degrees Fahrenheit (464 C). That meant it was theoretically hardy enough to survive a comparatively easy re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere.

There’s no record of space debris ever causing a human fatality. “The risk of any satellite reentry causing injury is extremely remote,” ESA officials wrote in a blog post about Kosmos-482. “The annual risk of an individual human being injured by space debris is under 1 in 100 billion. In comparison, a person is about 65,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning.”

On Friday, the U.S. Space Force forecasted that the spacecraft would re-enter the atmosphere at 1:52 a.m. ET on Saturday morning above the Pacific Ocean, west of Guam.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Tri-Cities Transformed as Local ‘Grinch’ Spreads Unexpected Holiday Joy

In the heart of the Tri-Cities, Tennessee, a familiar green figure is…

Watch: Orlando Police Deploy Drones to Nab Rooftop Burglar Post-Heist

ORLANDO, Fla. – A man has been charged after allegedly making off…

High-Ranking Russian General Assassinated in Moscow Car Bombing Incident

This photo provided by Investigative Committee of Moscow on Monday, Dec. 22,…

Tragic Birthday Celebration Turns Fatal: Smyrna Police Investigate Deadly Shooting

A tragic shooting unfolded at a birthday celebration in Smyrna late Saturday…

Hong Kong Trial: WSJ Owner Faces Allegations of Firing Reporter for Union Activities

HONG KONG – Monday marked the beginning of a significant legal proceeding…

Colorado Governor Criticizes Trump for ‘Political Games’ Following Rejection of Disaster Aid Requests

DENVER – Colorado Governor Jared Polis has accused President Donald Trump of…

Artifacts from Pulse Nightclub to be Preserved Ahead of Demolition

ORLANDO, Fla. – As the city of Orlando moves forward in honoring…

Missing Sevierville Teens Successfully Located

In a reassuring update from the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, two teenagers…

Radiothon Triumph: Over $10K Raised in 36 Hours for Isaiah 117 House!

In an inspiring show of community spirit, a dedicated 36-hour radiothon held…

Unforeseen Floods Devastate Settlements, Hotels, and Farms in Kenya’s Rift Valley

NAIVASHA – Back in 2008, Dickson Ngome began leasing a farm situated…

Nicki Minaj Shocks Arizona Crowd with Unexpected Support for Trump and Vance

On Sunday, the renowned rapper Nicki Minaj made an unexpected appearance at…

Senior Trump Administration Official Justifies Limited Release of Epstein Documents Amid Democratic Criticism

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In a recent statement, Deputy Attorney General…