Soviet-era Venus probe plunges back to Earth after 53 years – DW – 05/10/2025
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A probe launched from the Soviet Union more than five decades ago has plummeted back to Earth, splashing down in the Indian Ocean. Kosmos 482 had been bound for Venus but never reached its destination.

A probe launched from the Soviet Union more than five decades ago has plummeted back to Earth, splashing down in the Indian Ocean. Kosmos 482 had been bound for Venus but never reached its destination.

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’s sister planet because it was dragged off course after a malfunction in its launch vehicle’s upper stage.

  • SGGeorwell@lemmy.worldEnglish
    211·
    4 days ago

    It’s got to be devastating to scientists to watch your baby get flung into obscurity.

    • mkwt@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      4 days ago

      In NASA’s lessons learned database, there’s one where the probe made out all the way to its destination, but the pictures came back all black. Because they forgot to take off the lens cap.