Kosmos 482

Kosmos 482 Latest News

A part of the Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482, launched on March 31, 1972, is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around May 10, 2025, after orbiting the planet for over five decades.

What is Kosmos 482?

• Kosmos 482 is a Soviet-era Venus lander, launched on March 31, 1972 as part of the Venera space programme.
• It was meant to land on Venus, but a rocket’s upper stage malfunction left it stranded in Earth orbit.
• After more than 50 years in space, a 500-kg lander module is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere around May 10, 2025.

What Wen Wrong with Kosmos 482?

• The upper stage of the launch vehicle shut down prematurely due to a timer malfunction.
• This prevented the spacecraft from escaping Earth’s gravity and sent it into a low Earth orbit instead.
• The main spacecraft eventually burned up in the atmosphere, but the lander module continued orbiting.

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About the Venera Programme

• The Venera programme (1961–1984) was a Soviet interplanetary mission series aimed at exploring Venus.
• It launched 28 probes, of which 13 entered Venus’s atmosphere and 10 landed on the surface.
• Venera 8, the twin of Kosmos 482, successfully landed on Venus in 1972 and transmitted data for 50 minutes.
• Venus conditions: Surface temperature ~462°C and pressure ~92 times Earth’s.
• Venera landers were specially designed using:
  • Spherical titanium hulls
  • Heat-resistant layers
  • Pressure insulation
  • Active cooling systems.

Kosmos 482 FAQs

Q1. What is Kosmos 482?
Ans. Kosmos 482 is a Soviet-era spacecraft, launched in 1972, intended to land on Venus, but it failed to escape Earth’s orbit.

Q2. Why is Kosmos 482 in the news recently?
Ans. Kosmos 482 is in the news due to concerns that it may re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, posing a potential space debris risk.

Source: IE