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Venera-72 likely fell back to Earth Special report by Anatoly Zak | Editor: Alain Chabot An inactive component of a Soviet Venus probe is belived reentered the Earth's atmosphere in the early hours of May 10, 2025, after more than half a century stranded in orbit around our planet.
Venera-72 (V-72) project at a glance:
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| V-72 DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT HISTORY | |||||||||||||||||||
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Design of the Venera-72 mission (INSIDER CONTENT) A pair of Venera spacecraft prepared for launch in 1972 represented the latest incremental step in the Soviet program of exploring Venus tracing its roots to the dawn of the Space Era. Simultaneously, it was a pathfinder for future missions. |
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Development of Venera-72 (INSIDER CONTENT) In March 1972, after more than two years of development and testing, the V-72 project reached the launch pad with two upgraded lander ready for another major step in the exploration of Venus. |
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| V-72 MISSION HISTORY | |||||||||||||||||||
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Venera-8 survives on the surface of Venus (INSIDER CONTENT) The first of two V-72 probes, designated Vehicle No. 670, was launched on March 27, 1972. The 8K78M launcher (later known as Molniya) lifted off from Site 31 in Tyuratam at 04:15:01 UTC (01:15 Moscow Time). It successfully made it to the surface of Venus on July 22 of the same year. |
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Venera-72 stranded in Earth orbit for decades On March 31, 1972, or just four days after launch of its sibling, the second Venera-72 mission got under way, however it was left stranded in Earth's orbit as a result of a booster rocket failure. Its last component, most likely a Descent Module did not reenter until May 10, 2025. |
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