Scientists predict that a malfunctioning Soviet satellite will crash into Earth today, though its exact landing site remains uncertain. Originally launched in 1972 to travel to Venus, the Kosmos 482 spacecraft never reached its destination and has been orbiting Earth ever since.

Weighing about half a ton, the probe is expected to fall over water or an unpopulated area. Experts describe the chance of it landing in a populated region as “infinitesimally small.” However, the precise time and place of re-entry remain unknown due to the spacecraft’s age and variations in solar activity.

Marcin Pilinski of the University of Colorado Boulder noted that while much of the object may survive re-entry, it will likely be severely damaged on impact. He also emphasized that the risk to populated areas is extremely low. The probe’s batteries and parachutes are long defunct, and it is expected to hit Earth at roughly 150 miles per hour.

Kosmos 482 was part of the Soviet Venera program aimed at exploring Venus. A rocket malfunction left it trapped in Earth’s orbit, where gravity has slowly pulled it closer to re-entry. Most parts of the spacecraft have already fallen apart over the decades, leaving only the main spherical module—about one meter across and weighing nearly 1,000 pounds.

According to international agreements, any remaining debris will belong to Russia. Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek, using the latest orbital data, has estimated that the module could land anywhere between 52° north and 52° south latitude.

This wide zone includes major cities such as London, Brussels, Vienna, Budapest, and Bucharest. In North America, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Havana lie along its potential path.

Brazil faces the greatest exposure in South America, with São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro at risk. Even parts of Asia and Australia fall beneath its trajectory.