NASA scientists say a 1972 probe launched by the Soviet Union may meet a fiery end crashing back into Earth in the coming days.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — 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.

Recent sighting of spacecraft and debris burning through the atmosphere during their plummet back to Earth offer some clues as to what the reentry of a failed Soviet Venus lander might look like.