Soviet Capsule Returns

A Soviet-era rocket capsule, Kosmos-482, is due to hit Earth late tonight or early tomorrow. It is unclear where the 1,100-pound spacecraft will crash, with experts estimating a low (1 in 25,000) risk to humans. Track the spacecraft here.

Kosmos-482 was launched in March 1972, slated to become the Soviet Union’s ninth uncrewed mission to Venus as part of its Venera program (1961-83). While a similar mission launched days earlier made it to Venus, Kosmos-482 failed to escape low orbit, instead separating into four pieces. One piece burned up and two landed in New Zealand fields. Atmospheric drag has since pulled the landing capsule toward Earth. The titanium spacecraft is currently traveling at 17,000 miles per hour; it will hit Earth's surface at 150 miles per hour. 

The Venera program notched many successes, including humans’ first probe to land on another planet and the first to return images and sounds from another planet’s surface. Learn more about Venera here (w/photo).