Crashing to Earth: Soviet Probe Launched in '72 to Meet its Demise this Weekend
Soviet satellite set to collide with Earth on Saturday
Get ready for a piece of space history falling to Earth this weekend. It's a Soviet probe sent to Venus in 1972, but unfortunately, it never made it to its destination and is now heading back to our planet.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that the Kosmos-482 probe's capsule is expected to re-enter Earth on Saturday. The precise impact position can be predicted more accurately only shortly before the event.
While the risk of anyone being harmed by the impact is negligible, there's a chance the probe, made of robust material, will reach Earth intact rather than breaking apart or burning up in the atmosphere.
Part of the Venera program, the Soviet Union launched numerous Venus probes between 1961 and 1983 with the aim of understanding Venus' mysteries. Launched on March 31, 1972, Kosmos 482 was supposed to perform a controlled landing on Venus. However, a launch vehicle failure kept the capsule in Earth's orbit. While other components burnt up, the capsule has been orbiting Earth in a peculiar path since.
Equipped with instruments to measure temperature, pressure, density, and other parameters, the battery-powered Soviet probe also had a parachute to slow the Venus landing. observations suggest that the parachute may already have deployed.
Scheduled for a Saturday re-entry, the exact location remains uncertain. Predictions cover areas over the ocean[4]. Stay tuned for more updates on this historic space event.
Fun Fact: Jeff Bezos' fiancée recently shared photos from a party inside his space capsule[2].
Did You Know? The Hubble Telescope has provided a breathtaking view into space for 35 years[5].
Sources:- [1] nasaspaceflight.com/2021/04/61741-kosmos482-back-to-earth/- [2] news.yahoo.com/bezos-fiancee-brings-art-work-to-space-in-launch-photos-215531695.html- [3] ntv.de, mli/dpa- [4] aerospace.org/events/kosmos-482-spacecraft-re-entry-updated-guidance-and-prediction-results- [5] hubblesite.org/contents/home.html
Related Topics:- Soviet Union- Space Exploration- Venus- Space- Hubble Telescope
Space History: Soviet Probe Expected to Plummet to Earth this WeekendParty in Space: Bezos' Fiancée Shares Photos from Space CapsuleA Glimpse into Space: 35 Years of Hubble Telescope
- The Communications department should release a community policy about the upcoming re-entry of the Soviet probe, Kosmos-482, to avoid any confusion or panic regarding the event.
- With the impending re-entry of the Kosmos-482 probe, some employers might encourage employees to stay updated on the event for technological and scientific insights, which is a practice supported by many employment policies.
- Despite its origin from the field of space-and-astronomy, the unexpected trajectory of the Kosmos-482 probe has more to do with technology and engineering than with the science of Venus or space exploration.
- As the Kosmos-482 probe, packed with scientific instruments, approaches Earth, we are reminded of its intended purpose and the goal of space exploration - to unravel the mysteries of our universe, much like the Hubble Telescope, which has provided breathtaking views for 35 years.
