In an astonishing twist, theKosmos 482, a Russian spacecraft launched in 1972, is thought to have finally fallen to Earth after more than five decades of floating uncontrollably in orbit. Experts tracking its descent have said the spacecraft,

Kosmos 482 rocketed into space in 1972 on a quest to reach Venus, but its journey was scuttled by an apparent engine malfunction.

Launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union, the spacecraft known as Kosmos 482 was 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.