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Soviet-era spacecraft is expected to plummet to Earth this weekend after 53 years

The Soviet-era Kosmos 482 spacecraft, designed as a Venus lander, is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere around May 10, 2025, after orbiting for over 50 years.
The probe failed to leave Earth's orbit due to a rocket malfunction shortly after its March 31, 1972 launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome, leaving it stranded in orbit since then.
Kosmos 482 measures about one meter in diameter, weighs roughly 495 kilograms, and features a heat shield made of titanium designed to endure the extreme atmospheric pressure and temperatures found on Venus.
Expert Marco Langbroek estimates the spacecraft may hit the surface at about 150 mph without working parachutes after 53 years in orbit, noting the reentry risk is low but not zero.
Kosmos 482's reentry could cover latitudes between 52 degrees north and south, possibly impacting land or water, and highlights increasing concerns over space debris management and tracking.

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