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A Soviet spacecraft has returned to Earth

The craft was bound for Venus, but had been stuck in Earth orbit for more than 50 years

A pink postage stamp with Russian letters, the date 1972, and a blue circular inset highlighting an illustration of a spacecraft.

A commemorative postage stamp printed in Russia shows the Venera 8 spacecraft, including an illustration in the background of the descent probe parachuting to the planet’s surface. A twin probe that had been stuck in Earth’s orbit for more than 50 years finally fell to Earth on May 10.