Soviet-era spacecraft expected to plummet to Earth this weekend after 53 years

Kosmos 482 was built to land on the solar system’s hottest planet, Venus (Alamy/PA)

A half-ton Soviet spacecraft that never made it to Venus 53 years ago is expected to fall back to Earth this weekend.

Built to land on the solar system’s hottest planet, the titanium-covered spacecraft may survive its fiery, uncontrolled plunge through Earth’s atmosphere, predicted to occur on Saturday.