Kosmos 482, launched in 1972, will re-enter the atmosphere without control and could impact any point on the planet
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An old spaceship from the Soviet Union has set off alarms in the scientific community again: it is Kosmos 482. Launched in 1972, after more than half a century orbitingEarth, it will reenter the atmosphere in an uncontrolled manner in the coming days.
Although the probability that it will cause serious damage is low, experts warn that an impact with material consequences or harm to people can't be completely ruled out.
Este evento habría generado un enfriamiento abrupto del clima
Why Kosmos 482 is causing concern
Unlike most modern satellites, which are designed to disintegrate upon reentry, Kosmos 482 has a reinforced descent module. It was built to withstand the extreme conditions of Venus's atmosphere, which increases the chances that parts will survive the fall.
Specialists compare its possible impact to that of a small meteorite, although they emphasize that the real risk remains very low.
A trajectory that is impossible to predict precisely
One of the biggest problems is that it is an uncontrolled reentry. This makes it impossible to know exactly where the debris will fall, since the trajectory can vary as the spacecraft loses altitude.
Por qué el Kosmos 482 genera preocupación
According to current models, the potential impact area is enormous: it ranges from Canada and Russia to the south of South America. Other scenarios suggest that it could end up in the ocean, which is statistically more likely.
What scientists say
Astronomer Jonathan McDowell explained that there is a minimal chance of damage: "There is a small probability, one in thousands, that it could injure someone". He still clarified that monitoring is constant.
El área potencial de impacto es enorme
Meanwhile, researcher Marco Langbroek warned that the impact could be strong: the parachute would hardly function with the batteries depleted.
