More than five decades after a failed mission to Venus, a Soviet-era spacecraft is now on a return path to Earth. According to NASA, the Cosmos 482 probe—launched in 1972 and stuck in low Earth orbit ever since—is expected to re-enter the atmosphere between May 7 and 13.Designed to endure the extreme pressures and heat of Venus’ atmosphere, Cosmos 482 is likely to survive its descent through Earth’s atmosphere as well, raising the possibility of impact with the surface. NASA has said it’s too early to pinpoint the exact re-entry location.ALSO READ: Amazon launches its first internet satellites to compete against SpaceX’s Starlinks
The spacecraft was originally intended as a Venus lander, part of the USSR’s interplanetary exploration programme. However, due to a technical malfunction shortly after launch, it never broke out of Earth orbit. Instead, it became classified under the Cosmos designation—a naming convention typically used for Soviet satellites and space hardware that remained in near-Earth space.Interestingly, the name “Cosmos 482” was only assigned after its failed departure from Earth orbit.In an unusual twist, parts of the spacecraft had already returned to Earth in 1972. Debris from the probe fell into a field in New Zealand, where a local farmer discovered fragments. Despite international attention, the Soviet Union refused to acknowledge ownership of the debris and declined to retrieve the parts. Reports suggest that some of that original wreckage remains with the farmer to this day.Over time, Cosmos 482’s orbit has been slowly degrading due to atmospheric drag and gravitational disturbances. Now, after decades of circling the Earth, the probe is set to make its final descent—bringing with it a forgotten chapter of Cold War-era space ambition.ALSO READ: 3 astronauts return to Earth after 6-month stay in China’s space station
