Soviet Space Probe Out of Control Slams into Earth, Landing in Unspecified Location
On Saturday, May 10, 2023, the spacecraft Kosmos 482 made an uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere, marking the end of its 53-year stay in orbit since its failed Venus probe mission in 1971.
The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, stated that Kosmos 482 splashed down in the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta, Indonesia. However, the exact crash location is not recorded or publicly known due to the unpredictable nature of uncontrolled reentries and the lack of ground tracking of scattered debris.
Kosmos 482 was a robust spacecraft, built to withstand the scorching temperatures of Venus. As such, it's likely that parts of the spacecraft survived the heat of atmospheric reentry. The spacecraft, which weighs more than 1,000 pounds (495 kilograms), consists of a carrier bus and a lander probe that form a spherical pressure vessel.
The mission to Venus launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome spaceport in Kazakhstan on March 31, 1972. Unfortunately, a malfunction caused an engine burn that failed to reach Venus's orbit, and the spacecraft has been stuck in an elliptical orbit around Earth since then.
Recent images showed Kosmos 482's parachute flapping in orbit, but it is unlikely that it functioned during Earth's descent. Atmospheric drag eventually led to the predicted plunge through Earth's atmosphere this past week.
There have been no visual observations of Kosmos 482's descent, and there has been no recovery of its debris from the ocean. The European Space Agency (ESA) placed the reentry time of Kosmos 482 at 2:16 a.m. ET, while Roscosmos reported it at 2:24 a.m. ET. The U.S. Space Force places the reentry between 1:20 a.m. and 1:44 a.m. ET.
Despite these conflicting reports, the exact landing site and condition of Kosmos 482 remain unknown. The uncontrolled reentry of this historic spacecraft serves as a reminder of the challenges and uncertainties that come with space exploration.
- Gizmodo reported on the mystery surrounding Kosmos 482's reentry, stating that despite conflicting reports from various agencies, the landing site and condition of the spacecraft remain unknown.
- The future of space technology is marked by uncertainties, as shown by the uncontrolled reentry of the 53-year-old Kosmos 482, a spacecraft originally designed for a Venus probe mission.
- The space-and-astronomy community is currently tracking the debris of Kosmos 482, which is expected to contain advanced technology, providing insight into the past and potential future of space exploration.
- As space agencies continue to push the boundaries of science and technology, the uncontrolled reentry of Kosmos 482 serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges associated with exploring the unknown reaches of space.
