Seventies Soviet spacecraft 'probably just fell to Earth'

An out-of-control Russian spacecraft has probably plummeted to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit, experts say.

- ANDREW GRIFFIN

In recent weeks, the vessel known as Kosmos 482 has been making an uncontrolled approach towards Earth. Experts have been tracking it, though they noted that it was very unlikely that it would land over a populated area.

Now, the European Space Agency and others say the spacecraft has most likely hit the Earth. It was not spotted on its most recent pass over radar in Germany, the agency said, and predictions based on its orbit and previous location suggest that it would probably have already fallen to Earth.

As of yesterday morning, the US Space Command had yet to confirm Kosmos 482's demise as it collected and analysed data from orbit. But it remains unclear when and where exactly it dropped down. The spacecraft was originally made to land on Venus, and was built to survive the extreme atmosphere there.