A segment of a Soviet space probe, originally designed for a mission to Venus, is expected to make its return to Earth soon. This event marks a significant point in space exploration history as the probe has spent over half a century in orbit.

Expected Timeline and Reentry Zone

According to Marco Langbroek, an amateur satellite observer, the Cosmos 482 probe could reenter the Earth’s atmosphere around May 10. However, specific timing and location remain unpredictable.

The reentry trajectory is projected to span a latitude range from 52° North to 52° South, covering a vast area from England to the Falkland Islands off the coast of Argentina.

Langbroek noted, “There are many uncertain factors in this though, including that this will be a long shallow reentry trajectory and the age of the object.”

Potential Risks

While the risks associated with this reentry are considered low, they are not negligible. The probe, weighing just under 500 kg and measuring approximately one meter, poses a risk level akin to that of a meteorite impact. Langbroek emphasized, “The risks involved are not particularly high, but not zero.”

A Glimpse into the Past

The descending object is the lander module from a failed Soviet Venera mission in 1972. Initially intended for Venus exploration, technical issues during its launch led many components to burn up or crash back to Earth. This incident occurred shortly after the successful deployment of Venera 8, which successfully landed on Venus.

According to Space.com, the complications experienced during the launch prevented it from fulfilling its intended mission.