A failed Soviet spacecraft from the 1980s is expected to crash back to Earth this week, reigniting public concern over space debris and uncontrolled re-entries.
This spacecraft is the Kosmos-482, a Venus probe launched by the Soviet Union in 1972 that never escaped Earth’s orbit. After decades of circling in orbit, the spacecraft will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. The probe was meant to become the ninth of the unmanned Soviet Venera missions. Instead, a rocket malfunction inside left it stranded in orbit.
Most of the spacecraft will likely burn in the re-entry process, but heavier parts, such as the titanium pieces, could survive. “It’ll re-enter intact and you have a half-ton metal object falling from the sky,” said Jonathan Mcdowell, a British-American astronomer and astrophysicist. “Don’t touch it, because sometimes there are toxic elements,” says Alice Gorman, a space archeologist. Civilians are encouraged to report pieces to their government.
The spacecraft is currently being tracked by space agencies around the world, including NASA and Roscosmos, the russian equivalent of NASA. However, due to the unpredictable nature of orbital decay, scientists won’t be able to determine the exact time or location of impact until just a few hours before it happens. Right now, predictions suggest the re-entry will likely occur over the ocean or in Australia.
This event has sparked concern among scientists and governments, not only because of the danger posed by falling debris but because of the growing amount of space debris in our orbit. It’s been said that earth might even get rings from the amount of debris in the next century. As thousands of new satellites are launched each year, the amount of unused or broken equipment in orbit continues to rise. It is estimated that more than one Starlink satellite is being de-orbited every day.
Kosmos-482 isn’t the first instance of space debris falling. In 1978 another spacecraft, Kosmos-954, crashed in Canada, scattering radioactive debris across thousands of square kilometers. Incidents like these serve as a reminder of risks posed by aging spacecraft. Experts emphasize that although the risk to human life is very low, it’s not zero.
As Kosmos-482 begins its descent, space agencies and governments around the world are watching closely. Public safety alerts may be issued if the spacecraft is projected to land near populated areas. Until then, space observers may catch a rare glimpse of a fireball streaking through the sky.
