Concerns are over; 1972 Soviet-launched spacecraft falls into Indian Ocean, weighs 500 kg

 

 

Delhi: It has been confirmed that the Soviet-era spacecraft Kosmos 482 has crashed into the sea after entering the Earth. The 53-year-old Soviet spacecraft from the Cold War era fell into the sea after entering the Earth. The spacecraft fell at 2.24 am yesterday, 560 km near the Andaman in the Indian Ocean. The spacecraft, launched in 1972, was damaged and remained in orbit for 53 years.

After days of speculation, Russia's space agency Roscosmos confirmed that it crashed into the Earth on May 10. The spacecraft fell 560 km west of the Middle Andaman Island in the Indian Ocean. There were rumors that it might hit land on Earth. Roscosmos said the automated warning system confirmed the spacecraft's return.
Launched in 1972, Kosmos 482 weighed less than 500 kilograms (1,100 lb). It failed en route to Venus. A problem with its timer caused the engine to shut down early. It remained stuck in Earth's orbit for more than half a century. Because the spacecraft is designed to withstand the acceleration, high pressure, and intense heat of Venus, scientists predicted that most space objects would have little chance of surviving reentry into Earth's atmosphere.

Researchers predicted it would hit Earth anytime between May 9 and 13. Later, NASA and the European Space Agency said the spacecraft would arrive on May 10. The prediction was that it would fall 52 degrees north or south of the equator.