An Old Russian Spacecraft Could Crash Land in Maine or New Hampshire

Even though Northern New England is home to a few aerospace businesses, like Brunswick's bluShift Aerospace, Maine and New Hampshire aren't really known for space launches.

However, by this time next week, there is a slim chance that we could be known for spacecraft landings.  Or, at least, spacecraft crashes.

Kosmos 482

Launched in March of 1972, Kosmos 482 was a Soviet Union probe that was supposed to land on the surface of Venus.

The launch from Earth to orbit was successful.  As was the separation of the spacecraft from the rocket that lifted it into orbit.  However, an issue with the engine that was meant to set the unmanned probe on a course for Venus shut down prematurely.  As a result, the craft has spent the last 50 years orbiting the Earth.

The craft's highly eccentric orbit varies between an altitude of 112 miles and 457 miles above the planet.

With each orbit, the spacecraft gets closer to Earth.  Now, we are just days away from it re-entering the atmosphere.

This video gives a better explanation of the probe's specifics and what happened to it.

You get all that?  Yeah, neither did we.  Maybe we'll have a better idea once we take a few more Russian lessons on Duolingo.

According to Live Science, the craft is expected to crash to Earth sometime between May 8th and May 12th.

The wild part is that, because it was meant to operate on the hellish surface of Venus, the lander is super tough.  So, instead of burning up like almost every other de-orbiting spacecraft, Kosmos 482 is likely to come down in one big piece.

The spacecraft is about 3 feet wide and weighs about 1,000 pounds, so you are not going to want to get hit by it.

Where Will Kosmos 482 Land?

At this point, scientists are not really sure.

The Live Science article explains that it is expected to land somewhere between 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south latitude.  If you are not familiar with how maps work, that is a truly massive area.

The entire United States, all of Mexico, and a big chunk of Canada are all in the potential path.

We hope to have a clearer idea of where and when the craft will land in the coming days.

The good news is that, given how large the potential landing area is, there is a very slim chance that it could come crashing down in Portland, Portsmouth, Augusta, Manchester, or Bangor.