"If it hits us, it will hurt": a Soviet spacecraft threatens to crash on Earth

The Cosmos 482 probe, which has been drifting in orbit for over 50 years, could crash on Earth, in a populated area stretching from northern UK to southern New Zealand.

It has been above us for more than half a century, the Soviet probe launched in 1972 could make a return to Earth and re-enter the atmosphere in the coming days; the critical window is around 10th May, at about 8am, reports the media outlet L’Indépendant. Its impact zone would be between southern New Zealand and northern UK.

Risks that are not zero

This device, named Cosmos 482, was originally intended to deploy a lander to Venus. Due to a rocket failure (a malfunction in the upper stage), the spacecraft was never able to leave Earth’s orbit.

And the Dutch researcher Marco Langbroek points out to BFMTV: "It will hurt if it hits you." The probe, which weighs half a tonne, travels at several hundred kilometres an hour. A reason to worry? Not according to the researcher. "The risks are not particularly high, but they're not zero," clarifies yet another expert to Numerama.

The craft will probably end its trajectory in the ocean.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: L’Indépendant - Illustration: ©Unsplash)