Uncontrolled Reentry of 1972 Soviet Satellite Imminent Next Week, Potential Global Landing Locations Unpredictable
A 1,091-pound (495 kilograms) space probe, Kosmos 482, launched by the Soviet Union in 1972 to study Venus, is set to reenter Earth's atmosphere next week, and its landing site remains uncertain. Kosmos 482, part of the Venera program, was designed to collect data from Venus's surface but failed to reach its destination due to a malfunction in the upper stage of the Soyuz rocket booster.
Now, astronomers have determined that Kosmos 482's descent module will return to Earth on or around May 10, traveling at approximately 150 miles per hour (242 km/h). Marco Langbroek, a lecturer in space situational awareness at Delft Technical University in the Netherlands, who discovered the reentry, believes the impacts risks are relatively low but not zero.
Originally intended as a sister probe to Venera 8, which successfully landed on Venus's scorching surface in July 1972, Kosmos 482 broke into two pieces after its failed launch. The main body reentered the atmosphere nine years later on May 5, 1981, while the descent craft remained trapped in a slowly decaying orbit for over 50 years.
Although various reentry sites have been predicted, most notably in South America, Africa, or Asia, it remains unclear where Kosmos 482 will ultimately land. According to Langbroek, the probe could hit anywhere within a 52-degree latitudinal range, which includes significant portions of the Earth's landmass, as well as the oceans. Given oceans cover around 70% of the Earth's surface, it's highly probable that the lander will land in the sea, which is where experts predict it will most likely end up.
As satellite trackers continue to monitor the spacecraft's tumble from orbit, a clearer picture of its uncontrolled reentry will emerge in the coming days.
- The environmental science community is following the predicted reentry of Kosmos 482, a space probe initially meant for studying Venus but failed due to a malfunction, as it might impact various parts of the Earth, potentially causing environmental concerns.
- The weather pattern during Kosmos 482's reentry on or around May 10, traveling at approximately 150 miles per hour, could significantly influence the probe's destiny, considering its likelihood of landing in the ocean that covers about 70% of Earth's surface.
