SPACE — A failed 1970s Russian Venus probe which has been trapped in Earth orbit could crash back into the planet this year. <br />According to Space.com, the Cosmos 482 Venus probe was launched on March 31, 1972, but due to a rocket malfunction, failed to escape Earth's orbit. <br />A large portion of the failed spacecraft still remains in orbit today as space junk, but according to experts could fall back to Earth this year.<br />According to Don Mitchell, who studies Soviet space history talking to Space.com, when the Cosmos 482 mission failed, a heavy frame of tanks and equipment were jettisoned from the probe and burned up in Earth's atmosphere. <br />However, the Cosmos 482 Venus entry capsule is still adrift, orbiting the Earth every 112 minutes. The lander mass is 1,091 pounds (495 kilograms) and is equipped with significant thermal protection. <br />According to satellite watcher Thomas Dorman talking to Space.com, the failed probe could fall back to Earth this year or mid next year. <br />According to Space.com, previous estimates had the probe falling between 2023 and 2025.
