Soviet-Era Spacecraft Is Set to Plunge to Earth a Half-Century After Its Failed Launch to Venus

The planet Venus, seen from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Akatsuki probe in May 2016. J. Greaves/Cardiff University/JAXA via AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—A Soviet-era spacecraft meant to land on Venus in the 1970s is expected to soon plunge uncontrolled back to Earth.

It’s too early to know where the half-ton mass of metal might come down or how much of it will survive reentry, according to space debris-tracking experts.