Soviet Venus Lander Kosmos 482 Crashes to Earth After 53 Years in Orbit

Off-page Excerpt:Kosmos 482, a failed Soviet Venus lander launched in 1972, finally fell to Earth on May 10 after 53 years in orbit. Reentry estimates vary, but experts believe the probe likely splashed into the Indian Ocean. Designed to withstand Venus’s atmosphere, it may have reached Earth’s surface intact, renewing global concerns over uncontrolled space debris.