A Soviet spacecraft that failed to reach Venus in 1972 re-entered Earth's atmosphere after 53 years.

A Soviet spacecraft, Kosmos 482, which failed to reach Venus in 1972 due to a rocket malfunction, re-entered Earth's atmosphere after 53 years in orbit. The Russian Space Agency and European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking confirmed the uncontrolled re-entry, though the exact location is uncertain. The spacecraft's titanium lander, weighing over 1,000 pounds, was designed to withstand a Venus landing and may have survived re-entry. Any remaining debris will belong to Russia under a UN treaty. Experts say the chance of harm from debris is extremely low.