Scientists predict that the Soviet satellite Kosmos 482, originally launched in 1972 to travel to Venus, will crash to Earth today. The spacecraft, which has been in orbit around Earth for over 50 years after a rocket failure, is expected to land over water or an uninhabited area. Experts say the likelihood of it landing in a populated region is “infinitesimally minuscule.”

Kosmos 482, weighing about 495 kg and measuring 1 meter across, is expected to survive re-entry, but it may be severely damaged upon impact. While its batteries and parachutes are long gone, the spacecraft could travel at 150 miles per hour when it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere

The satellite’s re-entry path spans a wide range, with potential risk zones including cities such as London, Brussels, and Vienna in Europe, and Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Havana in North America.

In South America, cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are at risk, while in Asia, cities such as Hiroshima, Fuzhou, and Pyongyang could be affected. Even Australia’s sparsely populated regions may be vulnerable. The exact location of impact remains uncertain due to the spacecraft’s age and solar activity.