Failed Soviet Venus lander to crash-land on Earth instead

Published March 6, 2019 This content is archived.

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An article on CNET about a failed Soviet spacecraft that was supposed to travel to the surface of Venus in 1972 but failed to escape the pull of Earth’s gravity, and the one large piece of that spacecraft that appears to still be orbiting the planet and may soon crash to Earth, interviews John Crassidis, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

"We don't know a lot about (the remaining pieces of Kosmos 482), like their shape and rotation, which makes it difficult to get an accurate prediction on reentry," he said.  "Solar activity is an issue as well."  

Read the story here.

Articles also appeared on CNET Australia and Manchikoni.