• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • First Impressions - The Game
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Out-of-control spacecraft to perform ‘final death plunge’ as it could directly hit UK this week

Home> News> Science

Published 12:50 6 May 2025 GMT+1

Out-of-control spacecraft to perform ‘final death plunge’ as it could directly hit UK this week

Today's forecast: Cloudy with a chance of space debris

Kegan Marquez

Kegan Marquez

If you're looking to get out and about this week, the UK is set for partially cloudy weather with the odd chance of rain, and a 53-year old plummeting Soviet spacecraft. Maybe pack a heavy-duty umbrella.

Kosmos 482, which has been orbiting the Earth for decades is finally ready to come home, after the Soviet Union launched it back on 31 March, 1972.

Originally intended as a mission to Venus, Kosmos 482 failed shortly after lift-off and has been trapped in Earth's orbit ever since.

Advert

The Soviet Union launched Kosmos 482 in 1972 (Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The Soviet Union launched Kosmos 482 in 1972 (Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Now, after more than 50 years in space, the aging spacecraft is being dragged down by Earth's gravity. According to space debris trackers, Kosmos 482 is expected to re-enter the atmosphere sometime this week.

While its exact path isn't certain, according to computer models tracking Kosmos 482, parts of the UK could be within the potential impact zone.

Will Kosmos 482 cause damage?

Unlike modern spacecraft, which are often designed to burn up completely upon re-entry, Kosmos 482 includes a descent module that was built to withstand the harsh atmosphere of Venus.

Advert

This module was designed to survive extreme heat and pressure, making it possible that parts of it could endure retry through Earth's atmosphere, and impacting the planet, much like a meteor.

Because of its design, experts believe there's a high chance that some fragments may survive and reach the ground.

Although the chance of debris hitting populated areas is considered low, it cannot be ruled out entirely.

The spacecraft is likely to survive its decent (Getty Stock Image)
The spacecraft is likely to survive its decent (Getty Stock Image)

Predicting the precise landing location of falling space debris is notoriously difficult, especially when it's not a controlled landing, however, experts are monitoring the spacecraft in an attempt to predict where it might fall.

Advert

Speaking to NPR, Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has claimed "There's a not trivial chance that it could hit somewhere where it damages property.

"And there's a small chance - but it's like one in thousands - that it could hurt somebody."

When and where will Kosmos 482 impact Earth?

According to McDowell, 'it's in its final death plunge' meaning the spacecraft isn't far from entering the Earth's atmosphere and finding its final resting place.

Dr Marco Langbroek, a spy satellite researcher at the Dutch satellite tracking station SatTrackCam Leiden, took to X to give a much more detailed timeline of when we can expect the spacecraft to make impact.

Advert

According to Dr Langbroek, we can expect to see Kosmos 482 around 10 May, give or take a couple of days.

In his blog, he goes on to say that 'it likely will be a hard impact: I doubt the parachute deployment system will still work after 53 years and with dead batteries'. Dr Langbroek also states that the 500kg and one-metre spacecraft poses the same risk as a meteorite impact.

The estimated landing window might not be accurate (Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The estimated landing window might not be accurate (Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Dr Langbroek co-developed a re-entry model, and has placed the landing anywhere between Canada, Russia, and the southern end of South America.

The spacecraft could wind up landing in the UK, but, with the modelling not being perfect, it's just as likely it could land up in the ocean, or even hand delivering itself back to Putin's front door.

Featured Image Credit: Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Topics: Space, Science, Russia

Kegan Marquez
Kegan Marquez

Kegan is a freelance writer with a passion for everything tech and gaming. He has worked for global brands across the globe, including IGN, PCgamer, PCmag and many more. When he isn't working, Kegan spends most of his time playing video games, building and upgrading gaming PCs and looking for the next thing in tech to obsess about.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    King Charles won't be at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration due to royal protocol

    The monarch, nor Prince William, will be attending the inauguration of Pope Leo

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Pope Francis’ final wish for ‘Popemobile’ ahead of Leo XIV's inauguration this weekend

    The inauguration of the new Pope is set to take place this weekend

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Weightlifter, 31, given 5 years to live after believing 'common' symptoms were caused by gym training

    Scott was on his way to work one day when he suffered a seizure

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    What was found inside Nazi files discovered in basement of Argentina's Supreme Court

    The Nazi documents could help clarify events in relation to the Holocaust

    News
  • Impact previous asteroid had when it hit Earth as 'city destroyer' 2024 YR4 could strike in seven years
  • Radiation storm set to hit Earth this week as Brits told what to expect
  • International Space Station forced in to evasive action with space junk flying directly for it
  • Scientists address 'city-destroying' asteroid discovered that could hit Earth