Soviet Kosmos 482 spacecraft's descent module, launched in 1972, is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere around May 10, 2025.
Kosmos 482 failed its mission to Venus due to a malfunction and got trapped in an elliptical orbit around Earth, with the descent module remaining in orbit for over five decades.
The 495-kilogram descent module is predicted to reenter Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 242 km/h, and its reinforced design may allow it to survive reentry largely intact, posing a non-zero impact risk.
The module could land anywhere between 52°N and 52°S latitude, covering large portions of continents, but the most probable outcome is a splashdown in water. Satellite trackers are monitoring the trajectory for more accurate reentry predictions.