Kosmos 482. The uncontrolled fall of the probe can threaten Poland
According to the latest forecasts, the probe will enter the atmosphere of the Earth on May 10. Experts try to precisely determine the time and place of fall, but the margin of error remains significant.
Will fragments of the Soviet probe fall on Poland? The inhabitants of Jelenia and Zielona Góra as well as Biała Podlaska and Lublin must be careful
« The probe entrance to the atmosphere of the Earth is expected on May 10, 2025 at around 04:02 CEST with uncertainty +/— 13 hours. Two probes over the territory of Poland are expected, the first on May 10 from 06:40 – 06:42 CEST at the Jelenia Góra lane – Biała Podlaska, the second between 08:11 – 08:13 cest, in the belt of Zielona Góra Lublin. The facility may not burn completely, and its remains can reach the earth’s surface in the territory of the Republic of Poland, « Polsa informs.
Cosmos 482 was launched on March 31, 1972, just four days after the twin mission of the Venera probe 8. Both missions had the same purpose – Wenus study. Unfortunately, the technical failure prevented the probe from leaving the Earth’s orbit. Instead, she got stuck in space.
For over half a century, the probe orbit gradually decreased, until it finally approached the point where he enters into Earth’s atmosphere.
Cosmos 482 consists of two main parts: a support module and a lander, with a total start mass of 1184 kg. The lander is particularly concerned – a titanium, spherical pressure tank with a mass of 495 kg, which was designed to survive the extreme atmospheric conditions of Venus. This means that it can also partly survive the entrance to the earthly atmosphere and reach the surface of our planet.
The area of potential fall includes a wide belt of earth between the 52nd degree of northern latitude and the 52nd degree of southern latitude. This means that the fragments of the probe may fall on Poland, although the risk is difficult to estimate.
This year they have already fallen into Poland Rocket remains Elona Muska. Its fragments were found in several places in our country.
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Firefly Aerospace / AFP
The remains of the probe may fall on Poland on May 10.
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Polsa Polish Space Agency Polish Space Agency / AFP
A dilapidated probe may fall here.
