Kosmos 482, a Soviet space probe launched in 1972, is set to crash back to Earth next week, with an estimated reentry date between May 7 to May 13. British-American astronomer Jonathan McDowell discusses the potential risks, indicating a slight chanceâabout one in several thousandâthat it could hit a person, although he reassures that it poses minimal threat as it lacks nuclear materials. The mission's primary aim was to reach Venus, but due to failure, its landing capsule remained in orbit, which might survive the atmospheric reentry due to its heat shield.
In which case I expect it'll have the usual one-in-several-thousand chance of hitting someone. The vehicle is dense but inert and has no nuclear materials.
The capsule was designed to make it to Venus, it is equipped with a protective heat shield designed to prevent it from burning up.
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