A Soviet spacecraft is just about to crash into Earth after 53 years

• A Soviet spacecraft, Kosmos 482, launched in 1972 for a failed Venus mission, is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere this weekend.
• The half-ton, titanium-clad spacecraft is likely to survive re-entry but may be damaged upon impact.
• Experts predict the impact zone will likely be over water or a sparsely populated area, with minimal risk to populated regions.
• The spacecraft's re-entry time is estimated for early Saturday morning, U.S. Eastern Time, but remains uncertain due to solar activity and the spacecraft's age.
• Any surviving debris will belong to Russia according to a UN treaty.

IN FULL

Soviet spacecraft set to hit Earth this weekend after 53 years in space