Reentry

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  Soviet Venus Lander Kosmos 482 Crashes to Earth After 53 Years in Orbit

  Off-page Excerpt: Kosmos 482, a failed Soviet Venus lander launched in 1972, finally fell to Earth on May 10 after 53 years in orbit. Reentry estimates vary, but experts believe the probe likely splashed into the Indian Ocean. Designed to withstand Venus’s atmosphere, it may have reached Earth’s surface intact, renewing global concerns over un...

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  Soviet Venus Probe Kosmos 482 Set to Re-Enter Earth After 53 Years in Single Piece

  Kosmos 482, a Soviet spacecraft launched in 1972 for Venus, is predicted to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around May 10, 2025. Designed to survive harsh conditions, it may land intact. Scientists are tracking it closely, but the risk to humans is low, with most likely impact in oceanic areas.

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  Scientists Chase Falling Satellite to Study Atmospheric Pollution from Spacecraft Reentries

  In a rare airborne mission, scientists chased ESA's Cluster Salsa satellite as it reentered Earth's atmosphere. The fiery descent revealed emissions of lithium, potassium, and aluminum—chemicals that could impact the ozone layer and climate. With satellite reentries increasing, researchers aim to improve pollution models and plan further tracking...

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  Soviet Venus Probe Cosmos 482 Expected to Reenter Earth After 52 Years in Orbit

  Cosmos 482, a Soviet Venus lander stranded in Earth’s orbit since a failed launch in 1972, is expected to reenter the atmosphere between May 8 and May 14, 2025. Experts believe it may partially survive reentry due to its durable Venus-resistant design, sparking interest among scientists and space watchers globally.

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  Lone Soviet Satellite Plunging Towards Earth May Crash Like A Meteorite

  There is a small chance the space probe might survive the reentry when most space objects disintegrate upon entering the Earth's atmosphere.

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  SpaceX Sends Europe’s First Reentry Capsule into Orbit on Bandwagon-3 Rideshare Mission

  SpaceX’s Bandwagon-3 mission carried Phoenix 1, Europe’s first private reentry capsule, into orbit. Built by Germany’s Atmos Space Cargo, the capsule will attempt a full reentry and ocean splashdown after one orbit. The mission marks a turning point for European space logistics and reusable technology tailored for scientific, defence, and com...

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  SpaceX's Fram2 Mission Ends with Historic West Coast Splashdown

  SpaceX has resumed Pacific Ocean splashdowns with its Crew Dragon capsule Resilience, marking a shift in its recovery strategy. The move comes after concerns over falling debris and a desire for more control during reentry. This method was once standard until 2019, before splashdowns shifted to Florida. SpaceX now separates the trunk section earlie...

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  Mysterious Light Spiral Over Europe Traced to SpaceX Falcon 9 Reentry

  On March 24, a glowing spiral appeared in the night sky across parts of Europe, including the UK, Sweden, Croatia, Poland, and Hungary. The formation lasted for about 12 minutes before fading. Experts confirmed it was caused by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket reentering Earth's atmosphere after completing its mission. The phenomenon resulted from frozen f...

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  What Sunita Williams Will Experience During Spacecraft Reentry To Earth

  From the astronaut's perspective, the view from a window during reentry is nothing but a wall of fire.

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  SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Debris Falls Over Europe, Crashes in Poland

  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s upper stage made an uncontrolled reentry over Europe on February 19, creating a fireball seen across multiple countries. Large debris landed in Poland, with objects found near Poznań and Wiry Village. The Polish Space Agency confirmed the debris came from the Starlink Group 11-4 mission. Authorities are investigating, ...

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  Atmos Space Cargo’s Phoenix Capsule Set for First Orbital Test on SpaceX Mission

  Germany’s Atmos Space Cargo is set to test its Phoenix capsule on SpaceX’s Bandwagon 3 mission, targeting an efficient cargo-return solution. The capsule will carry multiple payloads, including biomedical experiments and a radiation detector. Equipped with an inflatable atmospheric decelerator, Phoenix aims to streamline the return of space-man...

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  Increasing Space Debris Risks Aircraft Collisions, Experts Warn

  Uncontrolled space debris entering Earth's atmosphere is becoming a growing concern, with rising risks to aircraft safety. A study from the University of British Columbia reveals a 26% chance of debris collisions in high-traffic regions like the Northeastern US and Northern Europe. Recent incidents, such as falling debris from SpaceX’s Starship 7...

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  Shenzhou-15 Spacecraft Debris Burns Over Los Angeles During Uncontrolled Reentry

  On April 2, 2024, debris from China's Shenzhou-15 spacecraft lit up the Los Angeles sky during an uncontrolled reentry. Scientists employed seismic data to track the sonic booms generated by the debris, analysing its path, speed, and fragmentation. This novel use of seismic tools highlights the risks of increasing space debris and the potential to ...

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  NASA Delays Artemis 2 Mission to 2026, Artemis 3 Crewed Moon Landing For Mid-2027

  NASA has announced delays in the Artemis missions, citing the need for additional technical preparations. Artemis 2, the first crewed Moon mission since the Apollo era, will now launch in 2026. Artemis 3, the programme's lunar landing mission, has been moved to mid-2027 due to Orion spacecraft readiness and other challenges. Adjustments to the spac...

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  Chinese Tianzhou 7 Cargo Spacecraft Successfully Completes Reentry After Delivery Supplies to Astronauts

  China’s Tianzhou 7 spacecraft, launched in January 2024, concluded its mission with a controlled reentry on 17 November. After delivering supplies and materials to the Tiangong space station and being loaded with waste, the cargo spacecraft was deorbited over the South Pacific Ocean. The mission also included the release of the Bayi-08 cubesat, d...