What to Know About the Soviet Spacecraft Plunging to Earth.

The article focuses on Kosmos 482, a Soviet Venus probe launched in 1972 that failed to leave Earth orbit and has remained there for over 50 years. Originally intended as Venera 9, the spacecraft's engine malfunction prevented it from reaching Venus, and it was redesignated Kosmos 482 under Soviet naming conventions for Earth-orbiting objects. Recent tracking by experts predicts that Kosmos 482 will reenter Earth's atmosphere around May 10, 2025, with an uncontrolled descent posing a low but nonzero risk of debris impact across much of the inhabited world between 52° North and 52° South latitude. Due to its robust design for Venus's harsh environment, parts of the probe may survive reentry, potentially including commemorative Soviet-era medals it carried.