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

Kosmos 482 re-enters the atmosphere more than a half century since launch on failed mission to Venus

A Soviet-era spacecraft plunged to Earth on Saturday, more than a half century after its failed launch to Venus.

The European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking agency confirmed its uncontrolled re-entry, based on analysis and the disappearance of the spacecraft from tracking on subsequent orbits. The European Space Agency's space debris office also indicated it had re-entered the atmosphere after it failed to appear over a German radar station.