Report Soviet Spacecraft Set to Re-enter Earth: Thailand's Minimal Risk

[snoop1130]

Pictures courtesy of GISTDA Facebook

 

A dormant Soviet spacecraft, Cosmos 482, which has been orbiting Earth since 1972, is expected to re-enter the atmosphere imminently, prompting cautious vigilance from space agencies worldwide. Thailand's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) issued an alert regarding the spacecraft's anticipated descent, scheduled for May 10 around 6.56pm local time.

 

The 53-year-old spacecraft, originally launched in a 1972 mission aimed at reaching Venus, failed to escape Earth's gravitational pull and has since remained in low Earth orbit. Currently at an altitude of 138 kilometres, the relic's re-entry trajectory points towards a likely impact within Canadian territory, although GISTDA warns that more accurate predictions can only occur once it descends below 130 kilometres.

 

While the statistical likelihood of debris falling on Thailand is a minuscule 0.001%, GISTDA reassures citizens that they are monitoring the situation continuously through their ZIRCON tracking system and are prepared for any contingency. "We are monitoring potential high-risk areas 24/7 and will continue to provide real-time updates," the agency stated.

 

The spacecraft's lander module, weighing approximately 495 kilogrammes, remains a considerable chunk of the object due to re-enter. Marco Langbroek, an expert in space traffic at Delft Technical University, remarks on the uncertainty of the lander's fate upon re-entry. "There is a chance that the lander may not fully disintegrate and could reach the Earth’s surface," though he maintains the probability of this occurrence being hazardous is extremely low, akin to the odds of being hit by a meteorite.

 

As Cosmos 482 hurtles back to Earth, the event underlines growing concerns about space debris and its management. Experts agree that such incidents may become more frequent as Earth's orbit becomes more congested with defunct satellites and space remnants.

 

For now, GISTDA advises the public to stay informed but composed amid this celestial phenomenon, encouraging awareness rather than alarm. Eyes remain on the skies, albeit with an understanding of the unlikely odds of any significant impact within Thailand.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-09

 

 

[johng]

6 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The 53-year-old spacecraft, originally launched in a 1972 mission aimed at reaching Venus, failed to escape Earth's gravitational pull and has since remained in low Earth orbit.

 

Would be  "nice" if they mentioned that the Soviets did actually manage to land  more than one craft on Venus and send images back  the only country ever to achieve such a task.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

though he maintains the probability of this occurrence being hazardous is extremely low, akin to the odds of being hit by a meteorite.

I'll not worry then...

[Muhendis]

8 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I'll not worry then...

Information supplied from the TAT office

[GreasyFingers]

Interesting to see the Thai map of the possible routes. They are 90 degrees to what are shown in Australia. Amazing Thailand.

[parallelman]

16 hours ago, johng said:

 

Would be  "nice" if they mentioned that the Soviets did actually manage to land  more than one craft on Venus and send images back  the only country ever to achieve such a task.

Russian Venera craft...

 

[klauskunkel]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the relic's re-entry trajectory points towards a likely impact within Canadian territory

Canada should send Putin a ticket for littering.

[NoDisplayName]

3 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Canada should send Putin a ticket for littering.

 

Trump will apply 75% tariff on soviet vehicle imported into Canada State.

[black tabby12345]

When objects enter earth's atmosphere, the angle is very crucial.

If it is too shallow, it is flipped away.

If it is too steep, it will burn with the friction(with air) well before it impacts the ground.

 

It is already May10.

And I am well and alive.

So it doesn't worry me.

 

 

 

[cowellandrew]

1 hour ago, GreasyFingers said:

Interesting to see the Thai map of the possible routes. They are 90 degrees to what are shown in Australia. Amazing Thailand.

Yes me to I was told it was going to crash on London!

No trouble hitting any brits!

🤔🤔

[Hardcastle P]

If the odd are that small.why even mention it.

[FlorC]

20 minutes ago, cowellandrew said:

Yes me to I was told it was going to crash on London!

No trouble hitting any brits!

🤔🤔

If it crashes on London , odds are very small hitting a native Brit. 😉

[John Drake]

Just in time for the Isaan Rocket Festival.

[Packer]

20 minutes ago, Hardcastle P said:

If the odd are that small.why even mention it.

 

To make Russia look bad, of course. 😞

[tjintx]

20 minutes ago, FlorC said:

If it crashes on London , odds are very small hitting a native Brit. 😉

 

The Soviets are going to be in a whole lotta trouble with the speed cameras and " congestion" fees, though.

[AhFarangJa]

34 minutes ago, FlorC said:

If it crashes on London , odds are very small hitting a native Brit. 😉

We could always live in hope it will hit a mosque...during prayer time....

[Sydebolle]

Cosmos 482 - what a lovely co-incident; shall leave my desk now to hunt all lottery tickets with "482" in the number 

[Aussie999]

Seems, in the last few hours, its projected trajectory has vastly changed.

[Aussie999]

18 hours ago, johng said:

 

Would be  "nice" if they mentioned that the Soviets did actually manage to land  more than one craft on Venus and send images back  the only country ever to achieve such a task.

Irrelevant to this article.

[Aussie999]

2 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Interesting to see the Thai map of the possible routes. They are 90 degrees to what are shown in Australia. Amazing Thailand.

Yeah, I notice the big difference.

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, black tabby12345 said:

When objects enter earth's atmosphere, the angle is very crucial.

If it is too shallow, it is flipped away.

If it is too steep, it will burn with the friction(with air) well before it impacts the ground.

 

It is already May10.

And I am well and alive.

So it doesn't worry me.

 

 

 

You still have 14 hours left

[johng]

6 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Irrelevant to this article.

No its not irrelevant at all   the craft about to reenter the atmosphere is a failed

Venus mission.

[Aussie999]

1 minute ago, johng said:

No its not irrelevant at all   the craft about to reenter the atmosphere is a failed

Venus mission.

True, but the others that landed on Venus are irrelevant to this article...

[johng]

1 minute ago, Aussie999 said:

True, but the others that landed on Venus are irrelevant to this article...

There where a series of missions just like the Apollo missions  not all were successful...the article  fails to mention the success  and focuses on the failure.

[Aussie999]

1 minute ago, johng said:

There where a series of missions just like the Apollo missions  not all were successful...the article  fails to mention the success  and focuses on the failure.

That's because they are irrelevant to this story... This is purely about the possible crash sites, here on earth....geez mate, it's not rocket science.... Oh, wait, it is 

[StandardIssue]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pictures courtesy of GISTDA Facebook

 

A dormant Soviet spacecraft, Cosmos 482, which has been orbiting Earth since 1972, is expected to re-enter the atmosphere imminently, prompting cautious vigilance from space agencies worldwide. Thailand's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) issued an alert regarding the spacecraft's anticipated descent, scheduled for May 10 around 6.56pm local time.

 

The 53-year-old spacecraft, originally launched in a 1972 mission aimed at reaching Venus, failed to escape Earth's gravitational pull and has since remained in low Earth orbit. Currently at an altitude of 138 kilometres, the relic's re-entry trajectory points towards a likely impact within Canadian territory, although GISTDA warns that more accurate predictions can only occur once it descends below 130 kilometres.

 

While the statistical likelihood of debris falling on Thailand is a minuscule 0.001%, GISTDA reassures citizens that they are monitoring the situation continuously through their ZIRCON tracking system and are prepared for any contingency. "We are monitoring potential high-risk areas 24/7 and will continue to provide real-time updates," the agency stated.

 

The spacecraft's lander module, weighing approximately 495 kilogrammes, remains a considerable chunk of the object due to re-enter. Marco Langbroek, an expert in space traffic at Delft Technical University, remarks on the uncertainty of the lander's fate upon re-entry. "There is a chance that the lander may not fully disintegrate and could reach the Earth’s surface," though he maintains the probability of this occurrence being hazardous is extremely low, akin to the odds of being hit by a meteorite.

 

As Cosmos 482 hurtles back to Earth, the event underlines growing concerns about space debris and its management. Experts agree that such incidents may become more frequent as Earth's orbit becomes more congested with defunct satellites and space remnants.

 

For now, GISTDA advises the public to stay informed but composed amid this celestial phenomenon, encouraging awareness rather than alarm. Eyes remain on the skies, albeit with an understanding of the unlikely odds of any significant impact within Thailand.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-09

 

 

 

I can see it now. First the earthquake, and now, a huge chunk of space junk falls into Soi Cowboy. What a headline that would make!

 

Aged Soviet Cosmo nut lands in Soi Cowboy in the final blow by Russia to Thailand's Tourism Industry.

[Pluto56]

I'm off to Home Pro to buy a helmet!

[Quentin Zen]

odds were small i'd win this one contest.  i won.   

odds small i'd get into this one school.  i got in.

odds small i'd meet someone who would be killed on a motorbike in Thailand.  two already.

odds small I'd die after meeting this one..........................

odds small the Nigerian Price actually exists.......yea, fact

odds small a butterfly in Canada would make me miss my bus in Bangkok......nobody knows

odds small COVID in our lifetime....who knows.

 

anything can happen.   

 

Nuclear bunker to lock in 3, 2. ...............................

[metisdead]

Off topic inflammatory posts bickering about negative emojis have been removed.

[daveAustin]

4 hours ago, black tabby12345 said:

When objects enter earth's atmosphere, the angle is very crucial.

If it is too shallow, it is flipped away.

If it is too steep, it will burn with the friction(with air) well before it impacts the ground.

 

It is already May10.

And I am well and alive.

So it doesn't worry me.

‘I’m alright, Jack’ 😋

Thanks for clarifying it might burn up through friction with air btw, thought it might be because of marshmallows.