Space Debris Crisis – The images are fictional, but the threat is realistic. The 500kg Soviet rocket section is on the course to collide with Earth more than 50 years later in orbit. Credit: Subho_0007, Shutterstock
Something big, released in 1972, Old and the Russians are heading our path.
After turning the planet for over 50 years, halfton mass of Soviet rockets is about to return to Earth. The object was part of the Cosmos 482, a spacecraft launched in 1972, and did not reach its intended destination, Venus.
Instead, one of its upper rocket phases was stuck in Earth’s orbit, and has been floating quietly ever since. Now, the 500-kilometre artefact from the Cold War is on track to reenter the atmosphere around May 10th.
Soviet rockets are now aimed at Venus back to Earth
The Cosmos 482 was released from what is now Kazakhstan, when the Soviet Union was still trying to outperform the Americans in the space race. the goal? Send the probe to Venus. However, the top of the rocket broke down and the spacecraft was trapped in low Earth orbit.
Over time, fragments of it fell to Earth. Some people burned out harmlessly in the atmosphere. However, this particular piece – solid metal blocks – was able to remain in orbit for over 50 years. Now, gravity finally pulls it back.
Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell said Sky News It’s not yet known exactly where it will hit. “If you’re a penguin, you’re probably fine,” he joked. “But if you live anywhere from Chile to Scotland, you’re in the zone.” It won’t burn out – and yes, it can hurt
Should we worry about Soviet rockets falling?
Let’s be clear. In most cases, space junk burns out into the atmosphere before it hits the ground. However, this object is different. At least in part, it’s heavy, metallic and big enough to survive the re-entry.
Dutch astronomer Marco Langlock says that essentially Soviet hardware is halftons that fall from the sky in hundreds of kilometers per hour. “If that hits you, it would hurt,” he said honestly.
To be fair, there is a small chance of landing in a more populated area. After all, the Earth is mostly the ocean. But that’s not impossible – that’s why space agencies are paying attention to it.
An increase in space junk problems puts the planet at risk
This is not a one-off curiosity. That’s part of a much bigger problem that’s quietly getting worse. That is, the amount of junk in orbit around the Earth.
Back in the 1970s, there were only a few dozen satellites in space. now? According to French space agency CNES, more than 34,000 tracked fragments exceed 10cm, with tens of thousands even smaller and unstoppable. Currently, around 9,000 active satellites are in orbit. That number of explosions have already had 6,000 satellites and are permitted to launch thousands more, thanks to companies like SpaceX.
The real danger isn’t just about things falling – that’s what’s happening there. As the sky gets crowded, the risk of inter-satellite collisions, or between the satellite and the debris, such as the Cosmos 482, continues to grow. And when that happens, it can create more fragments and cause more conflicts.
For years, experts have warned us that we are heading towards a dangerous turning point. This is a scenario known as Kessler syndrome, where the space becomes very junk and packed, making even new launches unsafe.
The Soviet Universe Shatter: What is Expected and Why Don’t Panic?
For the Cosmos 482, it is expected to drop around May 10th, but it could shift slightly as the date approaches. And unless you are very unlucky or live under an exact patch of the sky, it just happens to fall – you are almost certainly safe.
Still, that’s a strange idea, right? The Cold War rocket launched before most of us were born is still silently circling above our heads. And now we are preparing for the final collision landing, 53 years behind.
I hope you choose the middle of the Pacific Ocean, not your backyard.
