Soviet-era spacecraft 'likely' to have re-entered Earth's atmosphere

A Soviet-era spacecraft, Kosmos 482, which launched in 1972 on a mission to Venus, broke into fragments and is likely to have re-entered the Earth's atmosphere after more than 50 years in orbit, according to the European Space Agency. One fragment, believed to be the lander, "most likely" re-entered the atmosphere, but its exact location and fate remain unknown. Despite uncertainties, the risk of impact or damage is minimal, as the majority of Earth is covered by sea, and the spacecraft was built to withstand extreme conditions.