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URLhttps://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/10/kosmos-482-soviet-spacecraft-plunges-to-earth
Last Crawled2026-03-23 06:55:59 (26 days ago)
First Indexed2025-05-10 11:48:06 (11 months ago)
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Meta TitleSoviet-era spacecraft plunges to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit | Space | The Guardian
Meta DescriptionKosmos 482 re-enters the atmosphere more than a half century since launch on failed mission to Venus
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A Soviet-era spacecraft plunged to Earth on Saturday, more than a half century after its failed launch to Venus. The European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking agency confirmed its uncontrolled re-entry, based on analysis and the disappearance of the spacecraft from tracking on subsequent orbits. The European Space Agency’s space debris office also indicated it had re-entered the atmosphere after it failed to appear over a German radar station. It was not immediately known where the half-tonne spacecraft came in or how much, if any, of it survived the fiery descent from orbit. Experts said prior to the event that some and perhaps all of it could come crashing down , given it was built to withstand a landing on Venus, the solar system’s hottest planet. The chances of anyone being hit by spacecraft debris were exceedingly low, scientists said. Launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union, the spacecraft Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions bound for Venus. But this one never made it out of orbit around Earth, stranded there by a rocket malfunction. Much of the spacecraft came tumbling back to Earth within a decade of the failed launch. No longer able to resist gravity’s tug as its orbit dwindled, the spherical lander – an estimated 1 metre across – was the last part of the spacecraft to come down. The lander was encased in titanium, according to experts, and weighed more than 495kg. After the spacecraft’s downward spiral, scientists, military experts and others could not pinpoint in advance precisely when or where the spacecraft might come down. Solar activity added to the uncertainty, along with the spacecraft’s deteriorating condition after so long in space. The Russians indicated it came down over the Indian Ocean, but some experts were not so sure of the precise location. As of Saturday morning, US Space Command had yet to confirm the spacecraft’s demise as it collected and analysed data from orbit. The military unit routinely monitors dozens of re-entries each month. What set Kosmos 482 apart – and earned it extra attention from government and private space trackers – was that it was more likely to survive re-entry, according to officials. It was also coming in uncontrolled, without any intervention by flight controllers, who normally target the Pacific and other vast expanses of water for old satellites and other space debris. Some observers expressed disappointment at the lingering uncertainty over the exact whereabouts of the spacecraft’s grave. “If it was over the Indian Ocean, only the whales saw it,” the Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek said on X.
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Photograph: Rave/Wikimedia [View image in fullscreen](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/10/kosmos-482-soviet-spacecraft-plunges-to-earth#img-1) The Soviet-era Venera-4 is of a similar design to the Kosmos 482. Photograph: Rave/Wikimedia [Space](https://www.theguardian.com/science/space) This article is more than **10 months old** # Soviet-era spacecraft plunges to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit This article is more than 10 months old Kosmos 482 re-enters the atmosphere more than a half century since launch on failed mission to Venus Associated Press Sat 10 May 2025 14.05 CEST First published on Sat 10 May 2025 13.27 CEST Share [Prefer the Guardian on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=theguardian.com) A Soviet-era spacecraft plunged to Earth on Saturday, more than a half century after its failed launch to Venus. The European Union [Space](https://www.theguardian.com/science/space) Surveillance and Tracking agency confirmed its uncontrolled re-entry, based on analysis and the disappearance of the spacecraft from tracking on subsequent orbits. The European Space Agency’s space debris office also indicated it had re-entered the atmosphere after it failed to appear over a German radar station. It was not immediately known where the half-tonne spacecraft came in or how much, if any, of it survived the fiery descent from orbit. Experts said prior to the event that some and perhaps all of it [could come crashing down](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/02/soviet-era-spacecraft-kosmos-482-uncontrolled-return-earth-next-week), given it was built to withstand a landing on Venus, the solar system’s hottest planet. The chances of anyone being hit by spacecraft debris were exceedingly low, scientists said. Launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union, the spacecraft Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions bound for Venus. But this one never made it out of orbit around Earth, stranded there by a rocket malfunction. Much of the spacecraft came tumbling back to Earth within a decade of the failed launch. No longer able to resist gravity’s tug as its orbit dwindled, the spherical lander – an estimated 1 metre across – was the last part of the spacecraft to come down. The lander was encased in titanium, according to experts, and weighed more than 495kg. [![Blackness, with Earth in the middle, and 12,000 white dots around it.](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ffd07ffc52da395c8c63b218f310611f39ed3a63/531_0_2302_1843/master/2302.jpg?width=460&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=48bdd06af2b1d66efd6fa415ab7bb09a)Trump administration to stop US research on space pollution, in boon to Elon Musk Read more](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/07/space-pollution-elon-musk) After the spacecraft’s downward spiral, scientists, military experts and others could not pinpoint in advance precisely when or where the spacecraft might come down. Solar activity added to the uncertainty, along with the spacecraft’s deteriorating condition after so long in space. The Russians indicated it came down over the Indian Ocean, but some experts were not so sure of the precise location. As of Saturday morning, US Space Command had yet to confirm the spacecraft’s demise as it collected and analysed data from orbit. The military unit routinely monitors dozens of re-entries each month. What set Kosmos 482 apart – and earned it extra attention from government and private space trackers – was that it was more likely to survive re-entry, according to officials. It was also coming in uncontrolled, without any intervention by flight controllers, who normally target the Pacific and other vast expanses of water for old satellites and other space debris. Some observers expressed disappointment at the lingering uncertainty over the exact whereabouts of the spacecraft’s grave. “If it was over the Indian Ocean, only the whales saw it,” the Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek said on X. 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Readable Markdown
A Soviet-era spacecraft plunged to Earth on Saturday, more than a half century after its failed launch to Venus. The European Union [Space](https://www.theguardian.com/science/space) Surveillance and Tracking agency confirmed its uncontrolled re-entry, based on analysis and the disappearance of the spacecraft from tracking on subsequent orbits. The European Space Agency’s space debris office also indicated it had re-entered the atmosphere after it failed to appear over a German radar station. It was not immediately known where the half-tonne spacecraft came in or how much, if any, of it survived the fiery descent from orbit. Experts said prior to the event that some and perhaps all of it [could come crashing down](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/02/soviet-era-spacecraft-kosmos-482-uncontrolled-return-earth-next-week), given it was built to withstand a landing on Venus, the solar system’s hottest planet. The chances of anyone being hit by spacecraft debris were exceedingly low, scientists said. Launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union, the spacecraft Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions bound for Venus. But this one never made it out of orbit around Earth, stranded there by a rocket malfunction. Much of the spacecraft came tumbling back to Earth within a decade of the failed launch. No longer able to resist gravity’s tug as its orbit dwindled, the spherical lander – an estimated 1 metre across – was the last part of the spacecraft to come down. The lander was encased in titanium, according to experts, and weighed more than 495kg. After the spacecraft’s downward spiral, scientists, military experts and others could not pinpoint in advance precisely when or where the spacecraft might come down. Solar activity added to the uncertainty, along with the spacecraft’s deteriorating condition after so long in space. The Russians indicated it came down over the Indian Ocean, but some experts were not so sure of the precise location. As of Saturday morning, US Space Command had yet to confirm the spacecraft’s demise as it collected and analysed data from orbit. The military unit routinely monitors dozens of re-entries each month. What set Kosmos 482 apart – and earned it extra attention from government and private space trackers – was that it was more likely to survive re-entry, according to officials. It was also coming in uncontrolled, without any intervention by flight controllers, who normally target the Pacific and other vast expanses of water for old satellites and other space debris. Some observers expressed disappointment at the lingering uncertainty over the exact whereabouts of the spacecraft’s grave. “If it was over the Indian Ocean, only the whales saw it,” the Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek said on X.
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