Soviet-Era Spacecraft Cosmos 482 Set to Reenter Earth’s Atmosphere After 50 Years in Orbit

A Soviet spacecraft launched over half a century ago is now on a collision course with Earth. According to NASA, Cosmos 482, a failed Venus probe launched in 1972, is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere sometime between May 7 and May 13, with a likely descent on Saturday, May 10.

While the spacecraft was never able to leave low Earth orbit due to a mission failure, it has remained aloft for more than five decades, slowly losing altitude. Now, it's set to make what astronomers are calling its "final death plunge."

What Is Cosmos 482?

Cosmos 482 was part of the Soviet Union’s ambitious efforts to explore Venus during the Cold War space race. It was launched just four days after the successful Venera 8 mission, which reached Venus and transmitted atmospheric data. Both probes shared nearly identical designs, built to withstand the crushing pressures and extreme temperatures of the Venusian atmosphere.