Failed Soviet-era spacecraft to Venus will fall to Earth soon

Venus, seen from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Akatsuki probe. File pic/AP, PTI

A Soviet-era spacecraft meant to land on Venus in the 1970s is expected to soon plunge uncontrolled back to Earth, possibly within the first two weeks of May.

It's too early to know where the half-ton mass of metal might come down or how much of it will survive re-entry, according to space debris-tracking experts.

Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek predicts the failed spacecraft will re-enter around May 10. He estimates it will come crashing in at 242 kmph, if it remains intact.
"While not without risk, we should not be too worried," Langbroek said in an email.

The object is relatively small and, even if it doesn't break apart, "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 said.

The chance of the spacecraft actually hitting someone or something is small, he added. "But it cannot be completely excluded."

The Soviet Union launched the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 in 1972, one of a series of Venus missions. But it never made it out of Earth orbit because of a rocket malfunction.

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