The Story Behind Kosmos 482. AI-Generated.
The Story Behind Kosmos 482
Launched on March 31, 1972, as part of the Soviet Union's ambitious Venera program aimed at exploring Venus, Kosmos 482 was intended to deliver a lander to the planet's surface. However, a malfunction during the rocket's upper-stage burn prevented the spacecraft from escaping Earth's gravity, leaving it stranded in a highly elliptical orbit. Over the years, parts of the spacecraft have re-entered the atmosphere, with some debris landing in New Zealand shortly after launch. The remaining descent module, weighing approximately 495 kilograms (about 1,100 pounds), has remained in orbit until now.
