Yes! The Kosmos 482 spacecraft, a Soviet-era Venus lander, has finally crashed to Earth after 53 years in orbit. It reentered the atmosphere on May 10, 2025, and fell into the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta, Indonesia
Because it was built to survive Venus’ extreme atmosphere, experts predicted that it might reach Earth’s surface intact. While it’s unclear whether the spacecraft broke apart or remained whole, no damage or injuries have been reported
What was the Kosmos 482 mission?
Kosmos 482 was a Soviet spacecraft launched on March 31, 1972, as part of the Venera program, which aimed to explore Venus. Its mission was to deliver a lander to Venus, similar to the successful Venera 8 probe. However, due to a rocket failure, Kosmos 482 failed to escape Earth's orbit and remained circling for 53 years before finally crashing to Earth on May 10, 2025.
The spacecraft was designed to survive Venus' extreme atmosphere, meaning it was built to withstand high temperatures and pressure. This durability led experts to believe it might reach Earth's surface intact upon reentry.
Kosmos 482's long journey is a fascinating piece of Cold War space history!