A defunct Soviet spacecraft, Cosmos-482, re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and crashed into the Indian Ocean on Saturday, May 10, 2025, after spending 52 years in orbit. The event, confirmed by Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, marked the end of the spacecraft’s prolonged mission, which began in 1972.
Cosmos-482 was initially launched as part of the Soviet Union’s ambitious space program aimed at exploring Venus. The spacecraft, designed to conduct flybys and gather scientific data, experienced a malfunction early in its mission that prevented it from leaving Earth’s orbit. As a result, Cosmos-482 remained in space for more than five decades, trapped in a high elliptical orbit. Over time, the probe’s orbit decayed, gradually bringing it closer to Earth, where it eventually met its fiery fate.
On Saturday morning, at approximately 9:24 a.m. Moscow time (06:24 GMT), Cosmos-482 entered the dense layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. Its descent was tracked by Russia’s automated space hazard warning system, which monitors space debris and objects that may pose a risk to Earth. The spacecraft’s final crash site was approximately 560 kilometers west of Middle Andaman Island, situated near the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.
Although the spacecraft had long been out of service, its crash was closely monitored by space agencies around the world due to the increasing concern over space debris. The debris from Cosmos-482’s descent was expected to burn up upon entry, reducing any risk to populated areas. However, its re-entry underscores the ongoing challenge of managing space junk, particularly objects that have been in orbit for many years.
Cosmos-482’s crash is a reminder of the long lifespan of some space missions, even when they go awry. Despite the malfunction that kept it in orbit, the spacecraft’s gradual re-entry after more than five decades is a testament to the lasting impact of the Soviet space program and the enduring legacy of space exploration.
