She will “pass over France”, according to the specialized magazine Aerospatium

“The chances so that [cette sonde] Back on earth are limited, and very limited for an inhabited area, “said the editor -in -chief of Aerospatium.

More than 50 years after its orbit, an old Soviet space probe will crash on earth in the coming hours. Called “Cosmos 482”, this “Soyuz” launched in 1972 must fall back during the weekend of May 10 and 11 after having made several towers of the earth. “He will pass over France (…) and the most inhabited areas in Europe”note the editor -in -chief of the magazine Aerospatium, Stefan Barensky.

Questioned Friday May 9 on Franceinfo, however, he puts the risk into perspective: “Most of his journey will be above the oceans. (…) The chances of falling on earth are limited, and very limited for an inhabited area”he explains. The uncertainty relates to the resistance of the module (500 kg, 1 m in diameter) to friction linked to the entrance into the earth’s atmosphere. It should “resist”estimates Stefan Barensky, who predicts a shock to a “supersonic speed”.

In terms of responsibilities, the specialist recalls that some countries – including France – have supervised this scenario. “France is a pioneer on the question” with a law that “Force operators to bring back everything they send (in space) in a controlled manner”, he details. But in the event of an uncontrolled fall, as for this probe, the intervention of a third state remains very sensitive. “It can be considered a casus belli”in other words a declaration of war, underlines Stefan Barensky.