Stars and Scars: A Brutally Honest Look at Space Industry’s Biggest Setbacks in 2024

“In space exploration, failure isn’t the opposite of success – it’s part of the journey.”

– Anonymous Aerospace Engineer

In 2024, the space industry has had its fair share of cosmic missteps that even the stars couldn’t avoid. From missed launch windows to slightly embarrassing interviews with ministers who can’t tell Jupiter from Saturn, this year was full of unexpected crashes, burns, and awkward pauses in the space race. We gathered top 10 space industry’s biggest setbacks in 2024.

Why Failures Matter More Than Successes

It’s not all doom and gloom, though.

In the high-stakes world of space exploration, failures aren’t just accidents—they’re critical learning opportunities that reveal the razor-thin line between breakthrough innovation and spectacular collapse.

Amid the failures, we also find valuable lessons. These incidents highlight the importance of rigorous testing, continuous improvement, and a relentless pursuit of safety and reliability. By analysing these setbacks, we can learn from our mistakes, refine our technologies, and ultimately pave the way for a safer and more prosperous future for human spaceflight. And that’s what we’re going to do.

Join us as we count down from the smallest failure at number 10 to the largest at number 1, learning from each step along the way.

10. Falcon 9’s Critical Failure: SpaceX’s Orbital Setback

While SpaceX has been widely celebrated for its reliability, this event was a painful reminder that even the best rockets can have bad days. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 failure on 11 July 2024 grounded its primary launch vehicle and disrupted missions worldwide. The failure during the July launch triggered an investigation, but the loss of valuable satellites and a delay in operations were undeniable.

Why It’s a Fail

• Satellite Woes: Losing 20 Starlink satellites isn’t just a technical failure, it’s a financial one. Each satellite costs millions of dollars, not including the lost potential revenue from customers waiting for the Starlink network’s global reach.

• Mission Delays: Many missions were forced to pause, with high stakes. The Polaris Dawn mission was delayed, Transporter-11 and the ISS cargo flights were disrupted, and the Starlink satellite deployment schedule was significantly disrupted, which had real-world effects on research and commercial operations.
  
• Trust Issues: Falcon 9 had been SpaceX’s workhorse, consistently hitting its marks. A failure like this – along with the subsequent grounding – raises eyebrows. If it can happen to SpaceX, who can we trust?

9. Mars Mission Setback: ESCAPADE’s Launch Delayed

Sliding into our list of 2024 space industry disappointments is the delay of NASA’s exciting dual-satellite ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission to study Mars’ magnetosphere. 

Initially slated for liftoff in late 2024, the mission has been pushed to 2025, strategically avoiding potential cost escalations and technical complications with the much-hyped Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket launch vehicle.

Why It’s a Fail

• Blue Origin’s Endless Waiting Game: New Glenn, once hailed as a game-changer, still hasn’t launched. Delays like this highlight the risks of hitching your scientific ambitions to an unproven rocket.
  
• Budget Jitters: NASA justified the delay by citing the need to avoid cost overruns. But critics question whether betting on New Glenn was the right call.
  
• A Persistent Challenge: Blue Origin has consistently struggled to meet timelines for its ambitious projects. This latest hiccup risks tarnishing its reputation, especially compared to rivals like SpaceX’s rapid-fire progress. As one industry observer joked, “At this rate, New Glenn might fly after we colonise Mars.”

Yes, this delay isn’t necessarily a sign of technical trouble for the ESCAPADE mission itself but rather a focus on ensuring a smooth and cost-effective launch. Both NASA and Blue Origin want to avoid the potential for costly delays and last-minute scrambles.

8. ISS Leakage Saga: Russian Segment’s Space Drama

Claiming the No. 8 spot on our list is the International Space Station’s leaky saga.

The International Space Station’s Russian-controlled segment transformed into an unexpected water park, showcasing yet another chapter in Russia’s ongoing space misadventures. The leak, detected in late 2024, was not the first on the Russian segment but the most eyebrow-raising. Engineers scrambled to patch things up, but questions about ageing equipment and maintenance standards linger like Soyuz fumes.

RELATED: Astronauts Had To Shut Down Russian ISS Module Due To ‘Unexpected Odor’ From Cargo

Why It’s a Big Deal

• Potential Risks: While the current situation is not considered an immediate threat to the crew, the prolonged leak poses a potential risk to the station’s pressurisation and breathable air supply.

• Safety Concerns: The ISS hosts astronauts from across the globe, meaning Russian mishaps affect everyone onboard. A leaky station in microgravity? Not precisely a five-star Airbnb.

• Reputation: This isn’t Russia’s first cosmic fumble. From misaligned docking attempts to malfunctioning spacecraft, their track record seems to be a blueprint for Murphy’s Law in space.

Why It’s Only No. 8?

If you’re in Russia, it’s just another Tuesday. Let’s be honest: Russia’s technical difficulties are as predictable as the rising Sun. At least the astronauts onboard have shown remarkable resilience, proving teamwork can keep the dream afloat even when Russia’s space game falters.

7. NASA’s Artemis Program: A Lunar Leap, or Just a Shuffle?

NASA’s Artemis program is No. 7 on our list of cosmic letdowns – a dream of moonwalking glory now stuck in the limbo of eternal rescheduling. The crown jewel of NASA’s plans to return humans to the Moon, Artemis promised to bring us back to lunar soil for the first time since 1972. But in 2024, dreams of moon dust turned into clouds of delay.

Why the Rescheduling Drama?

• Safety First, apparently: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson cited safety concerns with the Orion crew capsule as the main culprit. And thus, Artemis II’s launch slipped from December 2025 to September 2026—and then further into 2027. That’s two delays in one year. Olympic-level procrastination, anyone?
  
• Hardware Woes: The SLS rocket’s mobile launch platform needed major repairs, proving once again that sometimes even rocket science is just really expensive maintenance work.
  
• The SpaceX Factor: The Artemis program relies on SpaceX’s Starship for its lunar landings. But with Starship still very much a work in progress, it’s like waiting for an Uber that’s still under construction.

If anyone was surprised by these delays, they haven’t been paying attention. Since its inception, the Artemis program has been plagued by cost overruns, technical challenges, and schedule slips. And yet, every delay feels like another moon crater in our collective patience. 

Silver Lining?

Perhaps by 2027, the Artemis program will finally hit its stride—or at least, we’ll all be too busy with Mars colonisation plans to notice. Until then, the Moon will just have to keep waiting.

6. Intelsat 33e: From High Orbit to High Drama

Coming in hot at No. 6 is the epic flameout of the Intelsat 33e satellite, a catastrophic failure that turned a state-of-the-art communications hub into an orbital headache. Boeing’s Intelsat 33e satellite failure represents a critical communication infrastructure disaster, transforming a $400 million piece of technology into a hazardous cloud of space debris.

Why is this such a big deal?

• Global Disruptions: Intelsat 33e wasn’t just any satellite—it was a linchpin for communication services across Europe, Africa, and parts of the Asia-Pacific region. Its failure caused significant service outages, affecting everything from internet connectivity to broadcasting.
  
• Space Debris Crisis: The satellite went from “next-gen marvel” to “space junk” faster than you can say “mission failure.” It was rendered useless, leaving behind at least 20 pieces of space debris. Each piece of the satellite’s remains now floats in low Earth orbit, posing a threat to other spacecraft. 
  
• Boeing Takes a Hit: This wasn’t just a loss for Intelsat—it was a blow to Boeing, the satellite’s manufacturer, already reeling from other setbacks (hello, Starliner). With Intelsat 33e, Boeing crashed not only the satellite but also a good chunk of its reputation.

In the space industry, you win some, you lose some—but when you lose a satellite, you also gain a problem no one wanted: more debris. As space enthusiasts quip, “Another one bites the space dust.”

5. NASA’s SLS Rocket: The White Elephant of the Moonshot

 Landing at No. 5 on our list of space industry fails is NASA’s flagship rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), teetering on the edge of cancellation. Once hailed as the backbone of humanity’s return to the Moon, SLS is now more like a costly elephant in the room—except this one doesn’t even make it to orbit on schedule.

Why is this such a fail?

• Money Down the Moon Drain: With billions of taxpayer dollars spent (estimated total project cost is over $50 billion), the SLS is a monument to budget overruns and inefficiency. Fun fact: the Artemis I mission alone had a price tag north of $4 billion—just for the launch!
  
• Not Built to Last: The SLS is a single-use wonder in an age of reusable rockets. While companies like SpaceX are landing and relaunching boosters, NASA’s rocket says, “One and done.”
  
• Years of Delays: The SLS was supposed to fly in 2016. It’s 2024, and even the Moon is starting to lose patience.

The Moonshot That Missed

Critics argue that SLS shouldn’t have been built in the first place. With its lack of reusability, astronomical costs, and glacial development pace, it’s starting to look less like a game-changer and more like a cautionary tale. 

If the SLS is indeed cancelled, NASA will be forced to re-evaluate its lunar ambitions. This could open the door for alternative approaches, such as leveraging commercial rockets developed by SpaceX, which offer a more cost-effective and potentially more agile path to the Moon.

NASA hasn’t officially pulled the plug for now, but the writing is on the launchpad. As space enthusiasts joke: “SLS stands for ‘Still Lagging Schedule.’”

4. RFA ONE Engine Explosion: A Blast of Questions

Rocket Factory Augsburg’s (RFA) explosive misstep at the SaxaVord Spaceport comes in at No. 4 on our list. The RFA ONE, developed by a German space newcomer, erupted in flames, raising serious concerns about the reliability of its innovative Helix engine technology.

During what should have been a routine hot-fire test in August 2024, their engine decided to detour from “fire” into a “full-blown explosion.” While no one was injured, the event left a charred mark on RFA’s ambitions and reputation.

Here’s why this failure cut

• Anomaly or Enigma?: RFA cited an “anomaly” as the cause, but let’s be honest: that’s industry-speak for “We’re not sure what just happened.” A deeper dive into their engine’s design history reveals a pattern of unresolved issues. Déjà vu, anyone?
  
• SaxaVord Setback: SaxaVord Spaceport, aiming to be the UK’s rocket launch crown jewel, now has its first big oops moment. It’s not exactly the PR they were hoping for.
  
• The Fallout: Literally. The explosion has raised eyebrows about RFA’s readiness to compete with other European launch providers. Is this a bump in the road—or a rocket-sized pothole?

This incident goes beyond a single test failure. It represents a significant setback for RFA’s launch ambitions, potential investor confidence erosion, and increased scrutiny of European commercial space ventures. While investigations are underway, scepticism is flying higher than RFA’s test rocket ever did. The company insists they’re “learning from the anomaly.” Let’s hope those lessons don’t come with more fireworks.

3. Orbex Spaceport Halt: A Launchpad to Nowhere

Orbex’s sudden decision to pause its highly anticipated spaceport project takes the No. 3 spot on our list. A company that once seemed poised for great things and made waves in the UK’s space industry, has halted its spaceport project, disappointing investors, locals, and hopeful space enthusiasts alike. Instead, it’s now a launchpad for disappointment.

This wasn’t just a construction project—it was a lifeline of hope for a region starving for economic opportunity. Orbex had promised approximately 250 direct and indirect jobs, significant regional economic transformation,and a £100 million investment boost.

Why it’s one of the year’s biggest letdowns

• Investment Fizzle: Millions of pounds were sunk into the project, raising sky-high expectations for its potential. Instead of blasting off, those funds appear to have evaporated into thin air.

• Broken Promises: The spaceport was billed as a transformative boost to the local community. Jobs, infrastructure, and a global spotlight—none of it materialised, leaving locals with dashed hopes and empty pockets.

• Industry Implications: As the UK attempts to stake its claim in the space race, the shelving of such a high-profile project raises serious questions about the industry’s stability.

The reasons behind Orbex’s decision still need to be clarified, leaving many questions unanswered. Spaceport construction was meant to kickstart the UK’s commercial space aspirations, but now, it’s just another example of how not everything in the space race goes according to plan.

Orbex’s silence on the matter hasn’t helped. While they’ve pointed to “operational adjustments,” the lack of transparency has only fueled speculation—and frustration.

2. Andrew Griffith: The Solar System Slip-Up That Sparked a Galactic Facepalm

Coming in hot at No. 2 on our list is Andrew Griffith, the UK’s Minister of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, who had a cosmic oops moment when he swapped Saturn for Jupiter during an interview. While his enthusiasm for space is commendable, his celestial blunder sparked endless memes.

During a January 2024 interview with Science Museum magazine, Griffith was quizzed on the solar system’s planets—a test most of us aced by fifth grade. Instead of dazzling us with knowledge, he managed to mix up Saturn and Jupiter, prompting a wave of secondhand embarrassment that spanned the galaxy

Why It Matters

• As the public face of UK science and innovation, a solid grasp of astronomy is expected.
  
• The mix-up didn’t just raise eyebrows—it launched memes, with captions like “Saturn’s Rings, Sponsored by Jupiter” making the rounds.
  
• The real issue? It undermined confidence in a leader expected to guide Britain’s high-tech ambitions. The incident underscores the critical importance of scientific competence in policy-making roles, particularly in the technology and innovation sectors.

The mishap might have been comical if it weren’t so symbolic. Despite the giggles and groans, there’s a serious note: when leadership fumbles over the basics, how do we expect to lead in innovation?

This high-profile scientific faux pas represented a personal error and raised serious questions about the scientific literacy of key government science leadership. As the face of science and innovation, Griffith’s planetary faux pas didn’t just highlight a lack of astronomical knowledge—it cast doubt on whether Britain’s space aspirations are in good hands. Griffith may want to brush up on his celestial ABCs before his following interview.
 
Lesson learned: always appreciate the power of planetary flashcards.

1. Boeing Starliner Astronaut Stranding: The Crown Jewel of 2024 Failures

“Houston, we have… a bit of a delay.”

If space had a Hall of Fame for facepalms, Boeing’s Starliner would be this year’s headliner.
Imagine being stuck in space with a return ticket that keeps getting postponed—welcome to the Boeing Starliner’s 2024 nightmare.

What was supposed to be a triumphant commercial crew mission turned into a celestial cliffhanger with NASA, Boeing, and space enthusiasts holding their breath.

A Rocky Road to Orbit

The Starliner was meant to be a game-changer—a symbol of American ingenuity and competition in the commercial space race. But its journey was anything but smooth. The spacecraft, originally slated to fly in 2017, faced repeated setbacks, including software glitches and unplanned delays.

After a staggering $4.3 billion investment and over a decade of development, Boeing’s Starliner has become the poster child for “what could go wrong?” in space exploration. This isn’t some plucky startup’s first attempt—this is Boeing, an aerospace titan with a century of engineering legacy, somehow managing to turn a routine mission into an orbital soap opera.

Let’s not forget: Boeing is no scrappy startup. This company has deep aerospace roots, plenty of funding, and decades of flight experience. Yet, it has struggled to get Starliner off the launchpad reliably.

Why It Mattered

• NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Credibility: Another blow to the already challenging private space transportation efforts
• Economic Impact: Millions spent, zero successful missions
• Human Risk: Astronauts’ safety and psychological well-being at stake

The Human Cost of Failure

What makes this failure hit hardest isn’t just the financial or reputational damage—it’s the human impact. The two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, aboard the ISS, who should have been back on Earth months ago, are now stuck until 2025. Imagine spending the holidays 250 miles above Earth, with a view out of this world but no way to get back to it. The extended stay has upended schedules, research plans, and, most importantly, lives.

Boeing Starliner wasn’t just a failure of engineering—it was a failure of expectations, trust, and, unfortunately, timing. If spaceflight is about bringing people together, this event was a stark reminder of what happens when things fall apart.

Boeing’s 2024 flop is a cautionary tale: even giants can stumble, and the fall feels much farther in space.