Sovyet-era Spacecraft Believed to Have Re-Entered Earth’s Atmosphere After Five Decades in Orbit

A Soviet-era spacecraft, launched in 1972 on a mission to Venus, is believed to have re-entered Earth’s atmosphere after circling the planet for over five decades. The spacecraft, known as Kosmos 482, was part of the Soviet space program and was originally intended to study Venus. However, a malfunction during its launch caused it to remain in Earth’s orbit, where it has stayed for the past fifty years. Scientists have been monitoring the spacecraft’s trajectory for years, and recent observations suggest that it finally re-entered Earth’s atmosphere. The exact location of its re-entry is unknown, but experts believe that it likely burned up upon re-entry due to the intense heat and pressure of Earth’s atmosphere. Kosmos 482’s long journey in orbit serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of space exploration missions, even those that do not go according to plan. While the spacecraft’s fate remains uncertain, its decades-long orbit will be remembered as a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of the Soviet space program.