A defunct Soviet spacecraft, Kosmos 482, launched over 50 years ago in a mission gone awry, is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry into Earth’s atmosphere in the coming days.
Initially intended to explore the surface of Venus, the space probe failed to leave Earth’s orbit after a rocket malfunction in March 1972.
According to LiveScience, the spacecraft — roughly the size of a car — has been spiraling around the planet in a highly elliptical orbit ever since. Now, over five decades later, gravity and atmospheric drag are pulling it back down.
A Cold War Relic Returning to Earth
Scientists predict Kosmos 482 will reenter Earth’s atmosphere between May 7 and May 13, though pinpointing the exact time and location remains difficult.
Dutch orbital analyst Marco Langbroek estimates the spacecraft will reenter around May 10 and may strike Earth at speeds reaching 150 mph (242 kph) if it remains intact.
“While not without risk, we should not be too worried,” Langbroek said in an email.
The reentry zone spans a wide area between 51.7 degrees north and south latitude, which includes cities such as London and Edmonton, stretching down to Cape Horn in South America.
