A failed Soviet-era spacecraft is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere some time this month.
The Soviet Union launched Kosmos 482 in 1972, intending to land on Venus. However, the probe never left Earth’s orbit because of a rocket malfunction. Since then, the rocket has very gradually lost altitude as it circled the world in a highly elliptical orbit.
Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek, of Delft University of Technology, predicts the half-ton craft, which is about three feet in diameter, will reenter around May 10, crashing somewhere on the planet around 150 mph.
Because the craft was designed to withstand landing on Venus, it is likely it won’t break during its return.
There is little reason to worry, he says.
“The risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, several of which happen each year,” Langbroek said. “You run a bigger risk of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime.”
He said the range of its landing spot varies from as far north as Edmonton or London in the Northern Hemisphere and as far south as the islands off Chile or New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere.
Since most of the planet is water, “chances are good it will indeed end up in some ocean,” Langbroek said.
