Soviet-era spacecraft plunges back to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit
Soviet-era spacecraft plunges back to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit

Kosmos 482 was launched by the then-Soviet Union in 1972 as part of a series of missions bound for Venus. But this one never made it out of orbit around Earth, stranded there by a rocket malfunction.
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Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article is mostly accurate, with the primary claim of the Kosmos 482 spacecraft re-entering Earth's atmosphere after 53 years in orbit being supported by multiple sources. The article presents the information in a neutral and objective manner. The launch year of 1972 is confirmed by Verification Source #5.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim:** Kosmos 482 was launched by the then-Soviet Union in 1972.
- Verification Source #5: Supports this claim, stating the spacecraft was launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union.
- Claim:** It was part of a series of missions bound for Venus.
- This claim is not explicitly verified by the provided sources.
- Claim:** It never made it out of orbit around Earth, stranded there by a rocket malfunction.
- Verification Source #1: Supports this claim, stating it never made it out of Earth's orbit due to a rocket malfunction.
- Claim:** Soviet-era spacecraft plunges back to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit.
- Verification Source #1, #4, and #5: Support this claim.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Agreement:** Multiple sources (Verification Source #1, #4, #5) agree that a Soviet-era spacecraft, Kosmos 482, re-entered Earth's atmosphere after being in orbit for a significant period.
- Agreement:** Verification Source #1 and #5 agree on the launch year of 1972.
- Lack of Coverage:** The claim that Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions bound for Venus is not explicitly covered by the provided verification sources.