Half-Ton Soviet Spacecraft Kosmos 482, Launched for Venus, to Re-enter Earth on May 10 at 06:37 UTC

60 posts • Grok (2)

Updated May 9, 2025, 09:28 PM

A Soviet-era spacecraft, Kosmos 482, launched in 1972 to study Venus, is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere this weekend after 53 years in orbit. The spacecraft, weighing approximately half a ton, never left Earth's orbit due to a rocket malfunction. It is expected to fall back to Earth on May 10, 2025, with a predicted reentry time around 06:37 UTC, though the exact time and location remain uncertain. The Kosmos 482 spacecraft, 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter and weighing 495 kilograms (1,000 pounds), was designed to withstand the harsh conditions of Venus's atmosphere, including temperatures up to 867 degrees Fahrenheit. Its robust construction, including a titanium casing and a heat shield, increases the likelihood that it could survive reentry and impact Earth's surface intact. The reentry is expected to occur within a broad latitude range between 52 degrees North and 52 degrees South, covering a significant portion of the planet's surface. While the risk of the spacecraft causing damage upon impact is considered low, with a 71% chance of it landing in an ocean, the possibility of it reaching a populated area cannot be entirely ruled out. The spacecraft's parachute system, likely compromised after 53 years, may not deploy, leading to an impact speed of about 150 mph (242 kph). The European Space Agency and other space debris tracking organizations are closely monitoring the spacecraft's descent, with ongoing updates refining the predicted reentry time and location.

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#Kosmos 482 #Venus #Earth #European Space Agency

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Sources

ntn24.com(4)nikkei.com(2)larazon.es blogs.esa.int

DD Geopolitics

@DD_Geopolitics

🇷🇺 Russia to Close Airspace Over Kapustin Yar Missile Test Site — Monitoring Channels Russia will close the skies over the Kapustin Yar test range, used for launching “Oreshnik”-type missiles, according to monitoring channels citing a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) of the QRTCA type https://t.co/WBfrkthfgc

Sprinter Observer

@SprinterObserve

International channels claim that the airspace over Kapustin Yar will be closed from 6:00 on May 12 to 4:00 on May 13 and expect launches of the Oreshnik at this time https://t.co/3cnUJqlQ5W

ayden

@squatsons

The airspace over Kapustin Yar is reportedly closed from 6:00 UTC on May 12 to 4:00 UTC on May 13. I don’t really understand what the point of firing anther Oreshink is unless they’re planning to hit something substantial and visible. If another beat to shit factory gets hit in https://t.co/0jg1ktaory https://t.co/1OpQN9mfLJ