Jonathan Frederic De Santos

USSR block of three stamps with three labels: Earth and Satellite Orbits. Series: National Cosmonautics Day. USSR Post

Article (news)

Deutsche Welle

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17469278707091076px-The_Soviet_Union_1968_CPA_3621-3623_block_of_3_with_3_labels_(Earth_and_Satellite_Orbits).png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>These commemorative stamps for National Cosmonauts Day show probes of the Venera program. USSR Post</div>Russian space agency Roscosmos on Saturday said a Soviet space probe that took off in March 1972 to explore the planet Venus crashed into the Indian Ocean.Planetary lander Kosmos 482 never made it to Earth&#x27;s sister planet because it was dragged off course after a malfunction in its launch vehicle&#x27;s upper stage.<div>What do we know about the Russian probe?</div>Roscosmos reported that the spacecraft, known as Kosmos 482, reentered the Earth&#x27;s atmosphere at 6:24 a.m. GMT/UTC and hit the ocean west of Jakarta, Indonesia. There were no immediate reports of damage or recovered debris.The European Space Agency independently supported Roscosmos&#x27; conclusion that re-entry had occurred.Kosmos 482 was part of the Soviet Union&#x27;s ambitious Venera program, which sent multiple probes to Venus between 1961 and 1983.The mission was to deliver a lander equipped with scientific instruments — including a gamma-ray spectrometer, photometer, and atmospheric sensors — to study Venus&#x27;s surface and atmosphere.<div>What went wrong with Kosmos 482?</div>While several Venera probes successfully transmitted data from Venus&#x27;s surface, Kosmos 482 went off-course soon after its launch.A technical mishap in the upper stage of the launch vehicle meant the probe, also known as Venera 4, never left Earth&#x27;s orbit and remained in a highly elliptical orbit around Earth for more than half a century before gradually descending.The nearly 500-kilogram spacecraft, measuring approximately one meter in diameter, had been closely tracked by space agencies concerned about potential dangers upon reentry.Experts previously warned that due to its sturdy construction — it was designed to survive Venus&#x27;s harsh atmosphere — the probe could reach Earth&#x27;s surface largely intact.However, Roscosmos said, &quot;Kosmos 482 no longer exists.&quot;Russia has said it plans to launch a new, long-term mission to Venus, known as Venera-D or Venera 17, marking a continuation of the Soviet-era program.While Venus is about the same size as Earth, it is sometimes referred to as an &quot;evil twin.&quot; Extreme temperatures, crushing pressure, poisonous atmosphere, corrosive clouds, and intense geological activity make it one of the most inhospitable environments in our solar system.<div>Edited by Sean Sinico</div>

A technical mishap in the upper stage of the launch vehicle meant the probe, also known as Venera 4, never left Earth's orbit and remained in a highly elliptical orbit around Earth for more than half a century before gradually descending.

A technical mishap in the upper stage of the launch vehicle meant the probe, also known as Venera 4, never left Earth's orbit and remained in a highly elliptical orbit around Earth for more than half a century before gradually descending.

Soviet-era Venus probe plunges back to Earth after 53 years

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Health & Science

Soviet-era Venus probe plunges back to Earth after 53 years

Deutsche Welle,

Richard Connor

Published May 11, 2025 10:08 AM PHT

Read More:

Space

Space exploration

Russia

Space probe

ABSNews

ANCPromo

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.