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11-05-2025
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Soviet-era Kosmos 482 Spacecraft Re-enters Earth's Atmosphere

Date: 11-05-2025
Sources: bbc.com: 1 | cbsnews.com: 1 | news.sky.com: 1
Image for cluster 1
Image Source:

Source: cbsnews.com

Image content: The image showcases a celestial body, COSMOS 482 DESCENT CRAFT #6073, amidst streaks of light from stars, captured using a technique that renders the stars as streaks due to their movement relative to the camera. The object is centered in the image, surrounded by numerous star trails, with a scale indicator at the bottom denoting 5.0 km. The image is presented by "s2a systems" in the lower right corner.

Summary

The Soviet-era spacecraft Kosmos 482, launched in 1972 to explore Venus, is believed to have re-entered Earth's atmosphere after 53 years in orbit due to a rocket malfunction. The European Space Agency and U.S. Space Command tracked its uncontrolled reentry, but the exact landing site and extent of surviving debris remain unknown.

Key Points

  • Kosmos 482 was launched in 1972 to explore Venus but failed to leave Earth's orbit due to a rocket malfunction.
  • The spacecraft broke into four pieces and has been tracked for over 50 years.
  • The re-entry location is unknown, with speculation it may have been over southern England.

Articles in this Cluster

Kosmos 482: Soviet-era spacecraft 'likely' to have re-entered Earth's atmosphereBritish Broadcasting CorporationBritish Broadcasting Corporation

11-05-2025

The European Space Agency has reported that a fragment of the Soviet-era spacecraft Kosmos 482, launched in 1972 to explore Venus, likely re-entered Earth's atmosphere on Saturday. The spacecraft broke into four pieces after failing to exit Earth's orbit and has been tracked for over 50 years. Experts believe the lander capsule may have survived re-entry due to its robust heat shield, but its parachute system likely degraded over time. The re-entry location and whether the object landed or burned up are unknown.
Entities: Kosmos 482, Soviet Union, European Space Agency, Venus, Earth • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform

Soviet-era spacecraft plunges back to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit - CBS News

11-05-2025

A Soviet-era spacecraft, Kosmos 482, launched in 1972 to explore Venus, failed to leave Earth's orbit due to a rocket malfunction and reentered the Earth's atmosphere 53 years later. The European Space Agency and the U.S. Space Command tracked the spacecraft's uncontrolled reentry, but its exact landing site and the extent of any surviving debris are unknown.
Entities: Kosmos 482, Soviet Union, European Union, European Space Agency, U.S. Space Command • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform

Half-tonne piece of Soviet rocket may have crashed through atmosphere over south of England | Science, Climate & Tech News | Sky News

11-05-2025

A half-tonne piece of a Soviet rocket, Cosmos 482, which was intended to reach Venus in 1972, may have crashed through the Earth's atmosphere over southern England on Saturday morning. The capsule, weighing around half a tonne and measuring about three feet across, had been in orbit for 53 years after the upper stage of the rocket failed to propel it out of Earth's orbit. Scientists are still tracking its re-entry and attempting to pinpoint its exact location.
Entities: Cosmos 482, Soviet rocket, Venus, England, Earth • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform