high-tech welding of the titanium. The scientists concluded that they were probably gas pressure vessels of a kind used in the launching rocket for a satellite or space vehicle and had decayed in the atmosphere. See also Kosmos (satellite) List of missions to Venus Russian space program References External links Space.com: Aussies, Kiwis Take Mir Deorbit in Stride 02:11 pm ET February 20, 2001 Wired Magazine: Awaiting Mir's Crash Down Under 02:00 AM Feb, 19, 2001 1972 in spaceflight 1972 in the Soviet Union Satellites formerly orbiting Earth Ashburton, New Zealand Kosmos 0482 Space accidents and incidents in the Soviet Union Venera program Spacecraft launched in 1972