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Kosmos 482 was launched in 1972 as an attempt to reach Venus. However, due to a rocket failure, it remained in Earth's orbit and has been circling for over 50 years.

Experts estimate the capsule, which weighs around 500 kilograms, will re-enter the atmosphere between May 7 and 13. It is still unclear where it will crash or how much heat it can withstand.

Amateur satellite observer and SatTrackCam blog author Marco Langbroek said: “In the second week of May 2025, an unusual object will re-enter the atmosphere. This object is related to the Cosmos 482 lander – part of the failed Soviet Venera mission from 1972.”

It is currently impossible to predict exactly when and where the re-entry will occur. According to modeling by Langbroek and colleague Dominic Dirkx, the object will enter between 52 degrees North and South latitude — which includes much of the world from northern England to the southern Falkland Islands off the coast of Argentina. Re-entry is expected around May 10 depending on solar activity.

As Eddie Irizarry from EarthSky reports, when solar activity intensifies, the upper atmosphere of the Earth heats up and expands. This increases atmospheric drag on low-orbit objects, slowing them down and speeding up their fall. Needless to say, the re-entry will be uncontrolled.