Kosmos 482

09.05.2025

Kosmos 482

Why in the news? 

            A part of the Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482, launched on March 31, 1972, is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere around May 10, 2025, after orbiting the planet for over five decades.

What is Kosmos 482?

• Kosmos 482 is a Soviet-era Venus lander, launched on March 31, 1972 as part of the Venera space programme.
• It was meant to land on Venus, but a rocket's upper stage malfunction left it stranded in Earth orbit.
• After more than 50 years in space, a 500-kg lander module is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere around May 10, 2025.

What went wrong with Kosmos 482?

• The upper stage of the launch vehicle shut down prematurely due to a timer malfunction.
• This prevented the spacecraft from escaping Earth’s gravity and sent it into a low Earth orbit
• The main spacecraft eventually burned up in the atmosphere, but the lander module continued orbiting.

About the Venera Programme:

• The Venera programme (1961–1984) was a Soviet interplanetary mission series aimed at exploring Venus.
• It launched 28 probes, of which 13 entered Venus’s atmosphere and 10 landed on the surface.
• Venera 8, the twin of Kosmos 482, successfully landed on Venus in 1972 and transmitted data for 50 minutes.
• Venus conditions: Surface temperature ~462°C and pressure ~92 times Earth’s.
• Venera landers were specially designed using:
  • Spherical titanium hulls
  • Heat-resistant layers
  • Pressure insulation
  • Active cooling systems

                                                              Source: Indian Express

Kosmos 482, recently in the news, is:

A.A Russian anti-satellite weapon

B.A Soviet-era Venus lander

C.A Chinese space station

D.A NASA Mars rover

Answer B