Soviet Venus Probe Set for Uncontrolled Reentry After 53 Years

2025-04-29
Soviet Venus Probe Set for Uncontrolled Reentry After 53 Years

A 53-year-old Soviet Venus probe, Kosmos 482, which failed to leave Earth's orbit in 1972, is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry in early May. Designed to withstand extreme heat, parts of the spacecraft might survive the descent. While the risk is considered low, it's not zero. The exact time and location of the reentry remain uncertain, complicated by solar activity affecting atmospheric drag.