Time for a follow-up on an earlier article. On May 10, 2025, a relic of the Soviet space program, the Kosmos 482 spacecraft, met its fiery end as it plunged into the Indian Ocean after more than five decades in orbit. Launched in 1972, this spacecraft was part of the ambitious Venera program, designed to unlock the mysteries of Venus. Its unexpected demise marks the conclusion of a prolonged orbital journey, shaped by a technical failure that kept it tethered to Earth’s gravitational pull.
After 53 years in space, this bullet of a Soviet spacecraft crashed into the Indian Ocean last night. It was supposed to land on Venus in 1972, but its interplanetary rocket failed. https://t.co/1RARd9HiuO pic.twitter.com/CZivhsffOY
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) May 10, 2025
READ MORE: Essex Files: Venus Vagrant’s Wild Return – USSR Lander’s 50-Year Orbit Ends…
