On May 10, 2025, something remarkable happens in the world of space travel: the Soviet lander Cosmos 482 returns to Earth after more than 50 years. The spacecraft was launched in 1972 as part of the ambitious Venera program, intended to explore Venus. However, due to a launch error, Kosmos 482 never left Earth orbit. Now, decades later, this forgotten capsule is making its entrance into the atmosphere after all - and it is an event that is being followed around the world.
What exactly is Kosmos 482?
Cosmos 482 was designed as a rugged Venus lander, built to withstand the extremely high pressures and temperatures on the planet Venus. The craft weighed about 495 kilograms and had a titanium shell, intended to remain intact upon landing on Venus. When the launch failed in April 1972, the spacecraft was stranded in an elliptical orbit around Earth. Part of the system soon fell back to Earth, but the landing module remained in a stable orbit - until now.
Did you know.
Kosmos 482's sister vessel, Venera 8, is did successfully land on Venus and collected data there for 50 minutes.
Why is Kosmos 482 only coming back now?
Spacecraft in low, elliptical orbit lose altitude over time due to friction with the upper layers of the atmosphere. In the case of Kosmos 482, this took more than 50 years. According to the ESA, the object's return to the atmosphere is expected on May 10, 2025 around 08:37 a.m. Dutch time, with a margin of uncertainty of several hours.
Because the module is so sturdily built, space experts expect parts of the craft to survive re-entry. The risk of these parts causing damage on Earth is small, but cannot be completely ruled out. The object could land anywhere between 52 degrees north and south latitude - that is, from southern Europe to parts of Australia and South America.
How great is the risk?
Although it sounds scary, the chances of Kosmos 482 landing on an inhabited area are very small. After all, our planet consists of more than 70% of water. Still, this incident is a reminder of the growing problem of space debris and old missions that unexpectedly become relevant again decades later.
According to space agency ESA, it is mainly the strength of the landing module that makes this situation unique. Few pieces of space debris remain so intact and massive in orbit after more than half a century.
Can Kosmos 482 be seen?
For those who would like to attempt to follow this piece of space history themselves: websites such as Heavens-Above offer real-time tracking of objects in the sky. By entering your location and searching for “Kosmos 482 landing module,” you can see if the object is flying over your region. Although difficult to spot because of its speed and altitude, it can be visible as a bright dot in the sky under certain conditions.
Space history over our heads
The return of Kosmos 482 is a reminder of the early years of interplanetary exploration and Soviet ambitions. At the same time, it is a current case in the debate around space debris and sustainability in space exploration. What happens to all those hundreds of objects launched decades ago but never retrieved?
For lovers of astronomy, this is a fascinating moment. Not only because of its historical value, but also because it shows how complex and long-lived space technology can be. And perhaps the best part: all this is happening above our heads, and in some cases even visible in the sky.
Want to learn more about space exploration?
Want to read more about space history, current launches or smart telescopes that allow you to observe special objects in the sky yourself? Then take a look at our other blog posts or check out smart models like the Seestar S50 Whether the DWARF 3, which even allows you to track satellites and space debris.
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