Soviet

The European space agency begins to limit when the Soviet ship will fall. Where is it a lottery

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Like some people, there are spacecraft that say goodbye giving the note. The Kosmos 482 Soviet Missionlaunched 53 years ago with the failed objective of reaching Venus, is about to star in one of the most unpredictable atmospheric resentments of recent times. The European Space Agency is following her live. The last prediction. According to the ESA Space Waste Officethe capsule will fall to Earth tomorrow, on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 08:16 UTC (10:12 in Spain). Although it has been reducing, the uncertainty window remains quite wide, with an error of +/- 8.61 hours. This means that the exact moment and the location can still vary (for now only latitudes above and below the 50º are discarded), but the predictions are noted as the object approaches. A capsule of the Cold War. Throwed on March 31, 1972, the Kosmos 482 ship was a twin sister of the successful Venera 8 mission, which did perch on Venus. However, a failure in the upper stage of the Molniya rocket that transported it prevented that it escaped the earth’s gravity, leaving it in an elliptical orbit with the earth all this time. What makes this event special is not only the longevity of the capsule, but the fact that it was built to survive the infernal conditions of Venus: surface temperatures of 464 ° C, pressures of 100 atmospheres and accelerations of up to 300 g. I could survive the reentry. What remains of the ship, the descent capsule of half a meter in diameter and 495 kg, was designed to support the extreme conditions of the Venusian atmosphere, so there is possibilities that it reaches intact to the surface of the earth. To survive, the impact could occur at about 240 km/h, with a kinetic energy similar to that of a 40-55 cm meteor. The big question is whether the parachute system, after 53 years and with exhausted batteries, could work. In view of telescope, the object seems to be tumbos. Prediction map on the reentry of the Soviet probe Kosmos 482. Image: that Do not panic. Taking into account that most of the planet is water, the risk of causing personal damage is “extremely remote.” And the probability of reaching a person is even lower, from 1 between 100,000 million, according to ESA. To put it in perspective, it is about 65,000 times more likely to be reached by lightning In addition, being an object that probably arrives as one piece, the risks are concentrated and therefore are lower than those created by the reentry of a rocket, which disperses multiple objects of metric size over a large area. Let’s take advantage of science. The almost spherical and smooth form of the Kosmos 482 makes it an ideal object to measure atmospheric density into very low orbits. Every time its elliptical orbit passes through perigee (the point closest to Earth), loses height due to atmospheric drag. This “accidental experiment”, which is being registered live by ESA, will provide valuable data on this type of event so far of the reentry. Perhaps a cold war ship shows us some lesson on how to reduce the problem of space garbage. Images | THAT In Xataka | There is an old Soviet probe about to fall on earth. The disturbing thing is that it was designed to resist hell

There is an old Soviet probe about to fall on earth. The disturbing thing is that it was designed to resist hell

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A piece of Soviet spatial history, the Kosmos 482 probe, is about to conclude its very long 53 -year -old odyssey. And in the most disturbing way possible: falling on us. Context. Launched on March 31, 1972, this Soviet ship was destined Venus, but A failure after its launch left it stranded In the Earth’s orbit. 53 years later, its final decrease is imminent: it is expected to be re -entered into the atmosphere around May 10. The probe does not contain nuclear materials, and the risk of properties or people is low … but it is not null. And you don’t want an object of half a ton that falls from the sky to hit you. Kosmos 482. Twin sister of the successful Venera 8 mission, she was launched only four days later, but unlike the first, she failed to land in Venus. The upper Blok-Nvl stage of the Molniya rocket that transported the Kosmos 482 went out prematurely, leaving the probe trapped in a very high elliptical terrestrial orbit (initially 206 x 9,800 km high). Faithful to the secretism of the time, The Soviet Union never admitted the ruling And he simply baptized the mission with the generic designation “Kosmos 482”. After three days, several fragments that had separated from the ship rented over New Zealand, where some remains were even recovered, such as cylindrical fuel deposits. Other objects associated with the mission rented in 1981 and 1983. Designed for Venusian hell. The object that has resisted all this time is the mission descent capsule, aimed at landing in Venus. It is estimated that this sphere has an approximate diameter of one meter and a mass of about 500 kilograms. Here comes the interesting thing: this capsule was designed to survive the infernal atmosphere of Venus, a planet whose average temperature on the surface is 464 ° C. As he points out Satellite analyst Marco Langbroekit is possible that relatively whole to the reentry of the Earth’s atmosphere, although the reentry trajectory and the seniority of the capsule reduce the possibility that it is intact at the time of the impact With the parachute deployed? The imminent reentry has intensified the follow -up by satellite observers. The amateur astronomer Ralf Vandebergh has achieved telescopic images of the object in which it seems to have a parachute. “There is a compact ball, but several frames show a weak elongated structure on a particular side of the ball,” He said to Space.com. In addition, the object could be tumbos, so it is only visible at times. How to follow the reentry. Kosmos 482 Orbit the Earth every 90 minutes in a inclination of 52 degrees. This means that the reentry can occur anywhere between latitudes 52 ° North and 52 ° South. The space -track estimated reentry window and analysts such as Langbroek focuses on May 10, 2025, with an uncertainty of 2 or 3 days that will be reduced as the moment approaches. The ship will make a series of visible passes from the northern hemisphere at dawn just around the planned reentry dates. Sites like Heavens-Above already include predictions of visible passes for Kosmos 482. When the man walked on the moon. The fall of Kosmos 482 is a tangible reminder of the golden era of space exploration and the intense race towards Venus, which followed the lunar race. This 1972 relic (the last year in which man walked on the moon), will return to a radically different world, increasingly congested by thousands of active satellites and a growing amount of space garbage. Image | POT In Xataka | Unable to solve the problem of garbage on earth, humanity has generated one more: space garbage

In the Norwegian cold war he devised a plan underground to detain the Soviet. Invasion to Ukraine has reactivated it

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The story took place at some point in The cold war. The plan started from a premise: how to contain a more than likely Soviet naval attack by one of the key maritime corridors in the Arctic Ocean? Thus the Term Bear Gap and a plan that germinated in a series of underground constructions with which Norway would put its grain of sand. Today, and after the Russian invasion in Ukraine, these secret constructions have reactivated. The origin of the bases. As we said, during the Cold War, the strategic location of Norway, close to the then Soviet Union, carried out the country to carry out a plan: build approximately 3,000 underground facilities destined to protect aircraft, submarines and troops both Norwegians and allies before a possible attack by Moscowand thus placate the offensive. Many of these structures, camouflaged in mountains and fjords, remained in secret even for the local population. Among them, the Bardufoss Air Base and the Naval Base of Olavsvernauthentic fortified complexes excavated in rock which had hangars, command centers, maintenance areas, fuel storage and underground exits designed to resist nuclear attacks. The reactivation. As I counted The BBC weekenddecades after the collapse of the USSR, Norway has decided to reactivate Bardufoss and Olavsvern due to the deterioration of regional security after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the increased activity Russian military in the Arctic since the mid -2000s. The Bardufoss Air Base, opened in 1938 and Used by Germans During World War II to protect TIRPITZ battleshipwas adapted in the postwar to protect combat planes against a possible Soviet offensive. Today, modernized and equipped to accommodate F-35 Lightning IIits main function is guarantee survival of these aircraft before threats such as kamikaze drones, whose effectiveness It has been tested In the Ukrainian conflict. Unlike improvised solutions in battlefields, such as networks or tire covers, Bardufoss offers real protection thanks to their hardened shelters under the mountain. One of the underground bases used in the past by the United States Olavsvern and its importance. It We explained recently. The Naval Base of Olavsvern, built from the 50s With strong financial support from NATO, it was conceived to control The so -called Bear Gapa vital maritime step between the Norwegian coast, the island of the bear and Svalbard, where they traditionally travel Russian submarines towards the Atlantic. Olavsvern has an underground port with direct exit to the sea, dry dock, control center and large logistics facilities, protected by thick layers of Gabbro and a monumental anti-explosion door. Although Its closure in 2009 and its subsequent private sale (in A controversial operation that even allowed access to Russian vessels), in 2020 the company Wilnor Governmental Services, linked to the Norwegian Defense Ministry, He regained his control And he began his rehabilitation. Currently, the base has once again received active military presence and, As we countthe United States Navy has shown great interest in using it for its nuclear submarines. Bear Gap. It is of a strategic term used to describe that maritime corridor between the coast of Norway, the Bear Island (Bear Island) and the Svalbard archipelago, in the Arctic Ocean. The area is considered a key step or natural strangulation (Chokepoint) where Russian submarines and warships that seek to leave from the base of the fleet of northern Russia, located on the Kola Peninsula, towards the North Atlantic. During the cold war and even today, NATO considers this corridor a Critical point to monitordetect and, if necessary, block Russian naval forces, since it is one of the most accessible routes that connects the Barents Sea with the Atlantic. Hence, bases such as Olavsvern and other Norwegian facilities in the Arctic have so much strategic importance. Controlling or monitoring this step is essential to prevent Russian submarines with strategic (nuclear or conventional) missiles can operate freely in the Atlantic. The Arctic Resurgence. Far from being an isolated phenomenon, the reactivation of these bases is part of a broader trend. Russia He has reopened nearly 50 military facilities Arctic of the Soviet era, while countries like Sweden They have reactivated its underground naval base of Muskö and China has built New underground complexes For submarines and command centers. They will, meanwhile, too has followed this path with his “Missile City” In the Persian Gulf. Norway, aware of the intensification of Russian military exercises in the Arctic and their renewed interest in exploiting natural resources in the region, has resumed its defensive logic of dispersion and protection undergroundnot only for its strength, but also as an essential point of support for NATO. Utility and limitations of bunkers. It is the last of the legs to be treated. Despite their apparent strategic value, experts warn that Reactivate old bunkers presents Important challenges. Many have been dismantled, flooded or present degraded structures, making their modernization expensive and complex. In addition, the truth is that facilities such as Olavsvern have already been identified by satellites as a potential objective for decades, reducing any type of surprise factor. Thus, analysts also agree that underground facilities are still One of the best defenses Faced with modern aerial threats, including guided missiles, provided that their vulnerabilities are correctly updated. Norway seems to bet on resilience and deterrence, accepting that, given strategic uncertainty, underground security remains a prudent and effective option, especially in a region where Russia seems determined to project all its can. Image | Rawpixel, Marine In Xataka | The US plan B in the Arctic is an underwater cave in Norway. The only drawback is that it is not for sale In Xataka | Trump wants to keep Greenland. There are two countries for which it would be a serious problem: China and Russia

The US believes to have a “treasure” with the rare earths of Ukraine. Everything is born from a outdated Soviet report 50 years ago

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Today, Friday, February 28, Presidents Volodymir Zelensky and Donald Trump They will meet in Washington to discuss and sign the agreement on the mineral resources of Ukraine. This alliance will give the United States a control over the country’s natural resources, a measure that Trump has promoted These last days. However, estimates on this aspect are based on reports of the former USSR for more than 50 years ago. The famous “rare earths”. I think we have heard of the “rare earths” these days and, in this same medium, We have deepened the subject Exposing the arguments of two energy experts, which have confirmed that talking about “rare earths” is a mistake. However, the global S&P medium He has been able to demonstrate Where does that speculation come from, it has only had to dust off some old documents of the former Soviet Union. More than 50 years ago. The geological report of the Soviet era that is using Ukraine to evaluate its “rare earth” deposits focuses on an exploration made between 1960 and 1990. It is true that the technology of the moment and the methods were very different from the current ones. According to experts Consulted by S&P Globalthe data used to estimate mineral resources have not been updated since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. In addition, some of the deposits are in areas of difficult access and require more advanced technologies for extraction, as is the case of Novopoltavske, located in the Zaporizhia region, due to hydrogeological mining conditions. This mine, according to the report, contains phosphates, rare earths and niobium. On the other hand, currently, you cannot access the territories occupied by Russia, as in the Donetsk region, where the Azovske and Mazurivske quarries are located. Were these deposits exploited in the USSR? According to the report with more than five decades, they knew about them and explored them, but were not completely exploited on a large scale. The impediments went through a lack of structure, the complexity to access the deposits and technological limitations of the time. After the dissolution of the USSR, the mining projects in the Ukraine area stagnated and no attempted development was made in a postsoviet era. What will happen today? United States and Ukraine They will sign a treaty For a Ukraine reconstruction fund, partially financed with the income of its mineral reserves. Ukraine has agreed to contribute 50% of its future income derived from critical mineral mining such as cobalt, lithium, titanium and rare earths. In return, United States It would help develop The mining infrastructure necessary to extract these resources, but analysts consider that real benefits could take many years to materialize. In addition, the US will be co -owner of the Fund to the extent allowed by its legislation and promises long -term financial commitment, but the agreement It does not specify amounts, deadlines or details about the management of the fund, which generates uncertainty about its real implementation. However, there is a key fact that has been overlooked: currently, Ukraine does not produce rare earths at the commercial level. Although it has reservations, the infrastructure necessary to extract them still does not exist. According to the United States Geological Service, Ukraine has Scandio depositsone of the 17 elements of rare earths, but its large -scale extraction has not begun. Is it really so essential for the US? We have already told. On the one hand, Trump seeks to lead global mineral resources and impose himself on China. On the other hand, analysts They have mentioned that Ukraine should produce 20% of the world’s rare land for more than 150 years to reach the 500,000 million dollars of value that Trump has mentioned. In addition, as indicated in the report, the value of deposits may not justify the investment in its extraction, which makes Trump’s interest not completely clear from an economic perspective. To this is added the lack of clarity On the previous help of the US: Trump has mentioned between 300,000 and 350,000 million dollars, but the Kiel Institute has estimated that the real figure is 119,000 million. It should be remembered that Ukraine has a notable production of other strategic minerals. Before the war, Galio produced, used in semiconductors and biomedical applications, and contributed 2% of the world’s bromine production, essential in flame retarders. In addition, it produced ilmenite, a key mineral concentrate for obtaining titanium, a metal with military applications. However, the war has stopped the production of manganese and alumina, fundamental for the manufacture of steel and aluminum. And about the occupied territory? Access to mineral deposits in territory occupied by Russia depends on an eventual resolution of the conflict, adding another layer of uncertainty to the agreement. It also follows a key issue in the air: Zelensky sought to include security guarantees for Ukraine, but The agreement does not explicitly mention them. Although the text says that the US will support “Ukraine efforts to obtain security guarantees,” does not establish specific commitments or defense mechanisms in case of aggression. Without them, the real impact of the treaty remains uncertain. Trump and Putin. All this conflict is even more complicated if we add the layer of the relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, who have talked again, and the Russian leader even has offered preferential access to the natural resources of your country, showing willing to negotiate the end of the conflict. Despite these “advances”, the possible concessions that Trump could accept, such as Ukraine renounces NATO, they worry both kyiv and Europe. They fear that these agreements can make safety in the region even more unstable. And the cake wid. The agreement Mention explicitly That future negotiations on the fund should avoid conflicts with the process of adhesion of Ukraine to the European Union, a striking point given Washington’s growing antagonism towards Brussels. However, Zelensky wants to avoid that the agreement interferes with its ambitions in European integration. Everything remains to be seen at today’s meeting. Image … Read more

Soviet technology to avoid the sanctions of the West

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Russia’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Anton Alikhanov, has announced than the first TUPOLEV TU-214 Updated will be ready this year. If everything goes as planned, customers will continue to receive it in 2026. It is a medium -distance passenger plane whose origin dates back to the late 1980s and that, curiously, in this new stage it could be less advanced than in Its previous version. The production of TU-214 It has never been significant. RZJETS Figure The amount in around 85, many of which were removed from service. The latter made sense if we take into account that the Russian airlines had access to the Boeing and Airbus aircraft, but this scenario changed drastically with the invasion of Ukraine. International sanctions severely hit the air sector of the Eurasian country. The sanctions have hit the Russian airlines From that moment, the airlines are established in Russia not only have not been able to buy new Western aircraftbut have been seen in serious problems to guarantee the maintenance of the previously acquired units. Access to the spare parts and technical assistance of the manufacturers were quickly off the scene, which forced companies ―And the government – to take measures to guarantee transport. The airlines began to stop using the most modern aircraft of their fleets, which are those where to get spare parts by alternative roads is more difficult, and the authorities announced a plan to restart the production of some models of the Soviet era, including the Tu- 214, to reach 1,000 units in the 2030s. This goal, certainly, is accompanied by a variety of challenges aggravated by sanctions. How BBC collectssome experts believe that Russia could choose to relive versions older versions than the last produced of their aircraft, which depended less on foreign components, but at the same time were less advanced. Here an obsolete version of TU-214 would enter into the scene that had a low level of automation and forced to have a crew of three people to be able to fly it. In addition to the pilot and co -pilot roles, it would be necessary to have the figure of the flight engineer, which would be responsible for performing many tasks manually. Then, from a broader perspective, it will not only be necessary to launch the plant equipment and the supply chain of hundreds of suppliers, but also to modify the training received by pilots and flight engineers. The updated plane that we mentioned at the beginning of this article is not a unit produced decades ago. 72RU explains that it is a registered plane with the number 64509 that belonged to Transaero Airlines and that stopped flying in 2015. In recent years, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) was transferred within the framework of the project to eliminate foreign components, an objective that seems to be advanced. Konstantín Timofeev, UAC general deputy director, said last year that Tu-214 with “Russian components” made its first flight in November. He also pointed out that this would be the platform on which they would continue to work on the modernization of the plane, as well as in the creation of a cabin for two members. On the latter, it is not clear if it will come true in the units that hope to deliver this year. The TU-214 is a narrow fuselage aircraft designed for medium distance flights and equipped with turbofán engines Пс-90A updateds. With the ability to transport Between 155 and 210 passengersit is considered the Russian equivalent of the Boeing 757. If the production manages to resume, the manufacture of units for export is not expected, but will be destined exclusively to Russian airlines. Images | Tupolev In Xataka | A report has revealed that US air traffic control technology is obsolete. There are pieces that are no longer achieved

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