A redundant Soviet Venera mission, Kosmos-482, is due to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere on 10 May.
The lander was originally designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the Venusian atmosphere but it is hoped that it could survive re-entry and land intact.
It is thought to be a metre across and weigh approximately 500kg, with a predicted speed of between 60 and 80 metres per second upon landing.
Should it hit land, there are questions over how hazardous it could be and who would own it if it were to be recovered.
It would be a fascinating artifact of the Space Race and a relic of the Cold War, and could provide an interesting exhibit in a museum if it can be salvaged safely.
