I am known to fall down the rabbit hole now and then. Recently, I stumbled upon a story about some space trash that has a tiny chance of coming down right here in Nebraska.
Have you ever wondered what happens to old spacecraft that have been drifting in space for decades? Well, one such relic from the Soviet era, Kosmos-482, is making headlines as it prepares to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere this weekend.
Launched in 1972 with the ambitious goal of reaching Venus, Kosmos-482 has been orbiting our planet for 53 years due to a rocket malfunction. It never even escaped orbit around the earth and has been just hanging out. Now, it’s finally coming home, but not quite in the way its creators intended.
Kosmos-482 was designed to withstand the harsh conditions of Venus, equipped with a robust heat shield that might just help it survive its fiery descent through Earth’s atmosphere. Weighing in at around 1,050 pounds, this spacecraft could make quite a splash—or thud—when it lands.
Experts are keeping a close eye on its trajectory, but predicting the exact landing spot is tricky. It could end up anywhere between 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south latitude, which covers a vast area including Africa, Australia, most of the Americas, and parts of Europe and Asia.
But where will it land? If you’re curious about potential flight paths, you can check out some research from Aerospace.org HERE.
Now, before you start heading to your basement, let’s put things into perspective. The chances of Kosmos-482 landing in Nebraska are extremely slim. Research shows that large objects re-enter Earth’s atmosphere about once a week, and the risk of injury is very low.
Most likely, Kosmos-482 will end up in the ocean, which covers a significant portion of our planet. Which will likely be very disruptive to some ocean life but probably not that noticeable overall.
If Kosmos-482 does make its re-entry over a populated area, it could create a spectacular light show in the night sky. Imagine a bright streak as the spacecraft burns up during its descent—definitely a pretty unique thing to see!
One thing to keep in mind, if any pieces do survive and are recovered, they legally belong to Russia, so don’t plan on keeping any space souvenirs.
Remember: Take pictures not pieces.
This spacecraft’s story is a fascinating one. Initially meant to explore Venus, it has spent over five decades orbiting Earth, forgotten by many. Now, it’s getting its moment of atmospheric entry, albeit on the wrong planet.
So, while the odds of Kosmos-482 landing in Nebraska are minuscule, it’s still an exciting event to follow for someone like me who gets caught up in these things.
I’ll be keeping an eye on the news for updates on its re-entry. And be envious of those lucky enough to witness a potential cosmic spectacle!