Observers anticipate the imminent return of a Soviet-era spacecraft to Earth in an uncontrolled manner during the first two weeks of May. This spacecraft was originally expected to land on Venus during the 1970s.
According to experts specializing in tracking space debris, it is currently too early to determine the exact landing location of the half-ton spacecraft or how much of it will remain intact upon re-entry.
Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek predicts that the Cosmos 482 spacecraft, which failed its mission, will return to Earth around May 10. His estimates suggest it could descend at a speed of 150 miles per hour (242 kilometers per hour) if the object remains intact.
In an email, Langbroek noted, “While there are risks involved, we shouldn’t overreact with concern.” He further stated that the odds of the spacecraft colliding with a person or object are low, although “it cannot be entirely ruled out.”
The Soviet Union launched Cosmos 482 in 1972 as part of a series of missions aimed at Venus. However, it never escaped Earth’s orbit and became stranded due to a malfunction in the rocket that propelled it.