Slight chance Kosmos-482 wreckage could hit Uzbekistan - Uzcosmos

Experts predict that debris from the Kosmos-482 interplanetary spacecraft, launched 53 years ago as part of the Venera-8 mission, could enter Earth’s atmosphere between May 9-11. While the most likely impact zones include Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan’s Uzcosmos agency warns of a slight possibility (0.3-0.5%) that fragments could land in Uzbekistan.

Most parts of the spacecraft will burn up upon atmospheric entry, but a titanium sphere weighing nearly 500kg, designed to withstand Venus' extreme conditions, could survive reentry intact.

Parachute deployment failure is expected due to the spacecraft's prolonged time in space.

The impact speed could reach up to 500 km/h, posing a serious hazard upon landing.

If fragments are discovered, authorities urge the public to immediately notify officials and avoid contact, as they may contain hazardous materials.

Uzbekistan's former Tashkent Machine-Building Design Bureau played a role in the Venera mission's final stages, designing and manufacturing soil sampling and drilling equipment for Venera-13, Venera-14 (1982), and Vega-1, Vega-2 (1985) missions. These devices were tested at a specialized facility in Nevich, Tashkent region.