Russian spacecraft weighing half a ton to crash on Earth. Why it's worrying
A relic of the early space age, the Soviet Cosmos-482 descent craft, is set for an uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere.The spacecraft is on a trajectory to crash on Earth on May 10, more than 53 years after its failed mission to Venus.Launched in 1972 as part of the Soviet Venera program, the 495 kg lander never escaped Earth's gravity due to a rocket malfunction, remaining in a decaying orbit ever since.advertisement
WHY IS ITS ARRIVAL WORRYING?What makes this reentry particularly worrisome is the robust design of the descent module.Built to survive the extreme conditions of Venus-enduring up to 300 G's of acceleration and 100 atmospheres of pressure-the capsule is encased in a titanium heat shield.Unlike most space debris, which burns up on reentry, Cosmos-482 is likely to survive the fiery plunge and reach Earth's surface largely intact. As Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics, notes, 'Its heat shield means that the half-ton, one-metre-diameter sphere might well survive Earth atmosphere entry and hit the ground. In which case I expect it'll have the usual one-in-several-thousand chance of hitting someone. The vehicle is dense but inert and has no nuclear materials. No need for major concern, but you wouldn't want it bashing you on the head."advertisementThe exact time and location of the impact remain uncertain, with predictions spanning May 10 to May 13 and anywhere between 52 degrees north and south latitude-covering most populated regions on Earth.While the odds of injury are low-estimated at about 1 in 25,000 for causing deadly damage-experts warn that the risk, though small, is not negligible.Beyond the immediate safety concerns, the event highlights the ongoing hazards posed by aging space debris. Cosmos-482's return is points to thousands of uncontrolled objects still orbiting Earth, some built with materials and designs that could survive reentry.As space activity intensifies, experts stress the need for better tracking and international protocols to mitigate risks from future uncontrolled reentries.
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