The Soviet probe Kosmos 482 finally re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on May 10, 2025, after more than 53 years in orbit. Launched in 1972 as part of the Venera program designed to explore Venus, it never reached its goal due to a propulsion rocket malfunction, which prevented its exit from Earth orbit.
The vehicle, designed to survive the extreme conditions of the planet Venus, completed an uncontrolled re-entry into the atmosphere, raising concerns about the possible survival of metal fragments, particularly the titanium descent module, which weighs nearly 500 kilograms.
Information on the point of impact remains conflicting: according to the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the probe reportedly crashed in the Indian Ocean, west of Jakarta. However, European experts, including those from the European Space Agency (ESA), believe the re-entry occurred shortly after it passed over Germany, without providing an exact time. The U.S. Space Force has given a time window between 1:20 – 1:44 AM (New York time) in the Pacific Ocean. Despite various estimates, no one has yet confirmed the exact location of the impact point or the discovery of any fragments. There are no reported damages or injuries.
Experts point out that the risk to people and infrastructure was extremely low because much of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans. Space authorities continue to monitor the area and collect data to more accurately determine the point of impact and any surviving debris.
