Cosmos 482: The Soviet-Era Spacecraft Expected to Fall

Cosmos 482: The Soviet-Era Spacecraft Expected to Fall

A Soviet-era spacecraft that has been trapped in Earth orbit for decades is expected to fall from the sky Friday night or early Saturday. The object, known as Cosmos 482, was launched by the Soviet Union in March 1972 but failed en route to a transfer orbit that would have taken it to Venus.

Key Details

  • Shape and Size: The capsule is believed to be a cylinder-shaped craft about 3 feet in diameter.
  • Current Status: It has been circling Earth aimlessly, slowly being dragged back toward home due to atmospheric drag.
  • Tracking: Astronomers and space traffic experts have been tracking the object for years as its orbital path reached lower altitudes.

Predicted Impact

According to various analyses conducted by institutions including the European Space Agency and Aerospace Corp, Cosmos 482 is predicted to crash back onto our planet overnight between 10 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. ET.

Safety Considerations

Marlon Sorge of CNN notes that this piece of debris likely won’t pose a significant risk to people living below due to its design specifications, which allow for survival re-entry into the atmosphere without breaking apart completely. However, he advises keeping a safe distance should anyone spot something suspicious lying around after the expected impact time window closes.

Legal Context

The estimated time frame for the impact will continue to narrow as the event date approaches. NASA rules regarding ownership liability over items placed beyond low Earth orbits are primarily governed by the Outer Space Treaty signed among nations in June 1967. This treaty states that the country responsible for launching a mission retains rights and responsibilities associated with it, regardless of whether the original intent remains valid today.

Historical Background

This tiny remnant came courtesy of the Russian Venera program, which aimed to study the conditions present within the thick clouds shrouding the mysterious planet known simply as Venus.

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