Kosmos 482: A Soviet-era Spacecraft To Crash Back To Earth. All You Need To Know
It is currently anticipated that a spacecraft from the Soviet Union that was launched in the 1970s would crash back to Earth.
A spacecraft from the Soviet Union that was launched in the 1970s and was initially supposed to land on Venus is now predicted to crash back to Earth later this month. Kosmos 482, a Russian spacecraft, was launched around 53 years ago. It never made it to its final destination. As it continues to tumble in low Earth orbit, recent satellite data suggests that its parachutes may already have been deployed.
Below, we have provided information regarding the Kosmos 482 mission, including when the spacecraft might crash and the potential consequences.
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Kosmos 482: Expected Crash
Kosmos 482 is anticipated to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere between May 7 and May 13, according to NASA. As per the space agency, the probe may survive re-entry without burning up because it was designed to withstand Venus’ severe atmosphere.
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Marco Langbroek, a Dutch scientist, reportedly thinks the spacecraft might land on May 10. The main section might reach the ground at around 150 mph (242 kph), he predicts, if it survives. Meanwhile, Astronomer Jonathan McDowell of Harvard & Smithsonian’s Centre for Astrophysics told National Public Radio (NPR) that the probe is currently in its “final death plunge."
“There’s a not-trivial chance that it could hit somewhere where it damages property, and there’s a small chance − but it’s like one in thousands − that it could hurt someone," he told NPR.
Kosmos 482: Who Is Impacted?
According to CNN, scientists think the “entry capsule," which is designed to resist the extreme heat and pressure of Venus’ atmosphere, which is 90 times denser than Earth’s, may be the part of the spacecraft that will return to Earth.
The spacecraft might land anywhere in the latitude range of 51.7 degrees north to south. Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America is one example, as are places as far north as London and Edmonton in Canada.
However, it would be unknown exactly where the impact would occur until it did. Dutch scientist Langbroek told the Associated Press that “chances are good it will indeed end up in some ocean" because water makes up the majority of the Earth’s surface.
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Kosmos 482: Should We be Worried?
“While there are risks, we should not be overly concerned," Langbroek told the Associated Press. The spaceship is extremely small, and even if it remains in one piece, “the risk is similar to that of a random meteorite fall, several of which happen each year. You run a bigger risk of getting hit by lightning in your lifetime," he added. He went on to say that there is little probability that the spacecraft will hit someone or something.
According to space debris expert Marlon Sorge, the Aerospace Corporation, a research organisation funded by the US government, has calculated that the likelihood of the spacecraft inflicting significant damage is roughly 1 in 25,000.
Kosmos 482: What Should People Do?
Sorge told CNN that people should avoid any debris if Kosmos 482 ends up striking dry land. Hazardous fuel or other risks that could endanger people and property may still be present in the outdated spaceship.
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