TIROS-1     |     6/18/1960

Loss of communication. Electrical power failure prevented further useful TV transmission.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1960-002B

Ranger 4     |     4/26/1962

Failure of a timer in the spacecraft’s central computer and

sequencer resulted in a failure to deploy solar arrays and navigation systems.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-012A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-4/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-4

Biosatellite     |     ~1/3/1967

Communications lost. Deorbit burn failed to occur. Uncontrolled orbital decay on 2/15/1967.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-114A

Landsat 1     |     1/6/1978

Camera failed on 8/5/1972, and the tape recorder followed. Without visual, the craft experienced excessive sunlight which led to overheating.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-058A

Solar Maximum Mission (SolarMax)     |     4/26/1962

Attitude control system failure resulted in the spacecraft being put in standby. Repairs were done during a shuttle mission in ~4/1/1984.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1980-014A

Landsat 6     |     5/10/1993

The satellite lost connection with the ground shortly after launch and before achieving orbit. A rupture was identified in the hydrazine manifold.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=LNDSAT6

Wake Shield Facility 1     |     3/2/1994

Failed on-orbit checkout prior to release from shuttle arm. Communication issues prevented deployment from shuttle.

Source(s):

https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/wsf.htm

Wide Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE)     |     3/5/1999

Premature ejection of aperture cover resulted in loss of solid hydrogen cryogen. This resulted in the loss of primary mission capability.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-011A

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/wide-field-infrared-explorer-wire

Compton Gamma Ray Observatory     |     12/1/1999

Gyro failure led to decision to deorbit observatory while attitude control was still available.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1991-027B

Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE)     |     12/18/2005

Solid state power converter tripped without the ability to rest. Communication was lost

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2000-017A

Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer     |     7/12/2007

All reaction wheels failed. After final wheel failed, orbital decay occurred on 11/18/2007.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-035A

Mars Polar Lander    |     12/3/1999

Software did not account for vibrations from landing gear deployment. Deployment was interpreted as touchdown, which resulted in engine shutdown at too high an altitude.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-001A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-polar-lander-deep-space-2/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-polar-lander-deep-space-2

Cassini-Huygens     |     7/15/2017

Communications firmware did not account for Doppler shift during probe descent. Cassini orbit modified to minimize shift and allow ~50% of Huygens experiment data to be received.

Source(s):

https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-history/space-age/titan-calling

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/overview/

 https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/cassini-huygens

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1997-061A

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1997-061C

Mariner 10     |     11/13/1973

Star tracker locked onto paint flakes and lost lock on the

guide star Canopus. An automated safety protocol recovered Canopus.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1973-085A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-10/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-1

Ranger 4     |     9/21/1974

Onboard computer experienced unplanned resets, which made reconfiguring the clock sequence and subsystems a necessity.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-012A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-4/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-4

Clementine     |     5/7/1994

Computer error resulted in thruster firing until fuel was depleted.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1994-004A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/clementine/in-depth/

Clementine     |     6/1/1994

Electrical power dropped to a level where the telemetry was no longer reliable.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1994-004A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/clementine/in-depth/

Deep Space 2     |     12/3/1999

Two impact probes to be deployed from Mars Polar Lander never established contact.

Source(s):

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/nmp/

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-polar-lander-deep-space-2/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-polar-lander-deep-space-2

Surveyor 2     |     9/23/1966

An engine failure resulted in loss of contact before landing. Uncontrolled crash into the Moon.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-084A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/surveyor-2/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/surveyor-2

Surveyor 3     |     5/4/1967

Spacecraft powered down on 4/3/1967 for lunar nightfall. Spacecraft did not respond to commands to power up.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-035A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/surveyor-3/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/surveyor-3

Surveyor 4     |     7/17/1967

Radio signals from the spacecraft ceased during the terminal descent phase. It is also possible the spacecraft solid propellant retrorockets exploded.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-068A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/surveyor-4/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/surveyor-4

Viking 2 - Lander     |     4/11/1980

Propellant leak during extended mission resulted in orbiter being safed and shut down.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-083C

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/viking-2/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/viking-2

Solar Maximum Mission (SolarMax)     |     11/1/1980

Human error during extended mission resulted in failure. Ground controller sent bad command that overwrote antenna pointing data, resulting in loss of communications.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1980-014A

Mars Pathfinder - Sojourner Rover     |     10/7/1997

Loss of power from suspected battery failure during extended missions. Communication was lost.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=MESURPR

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1996-068A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-pathfinder/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-pathfinder-sojourner-rover

Opportunity Rover    |     2/13/2019

Failed to establish communications after hibernating through dust storm. Resulted in a loss of communications.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-032A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/opportunity/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-exploration-rover-opportunity-mer

Genesis    |     9/8/2004

Incorrectly installed G-switch prevented emergency landing system from deploying parachute and resulted in a crash landing.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-034A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/genesis/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/genesis

Deep Space 1    |     11/11/1999

Star tracker failed. Software patch uplinked to allow science camera to be used for navigation.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1998-061A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/deep-space-1/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/deep-space-1-ds1

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/nmp/

Deep Space 1    |     12/18/2001

Ion engine failed due to contamination. Repeated firing eventually cleared contamination and recovered function.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1998-061A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/deep-space-1/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/deep-space-1-ds1

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/nmp/

Pioneer (Able 2)    |     10/11/1958

After a failed launch the spacecraft was inserted too low. Useful data and evidence of the Van Allen Belt was still able to be returned.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1958-007A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/pioneer-1/in-depth/

Ranger 1     |     8/30/1961

The spacecraft was stranded in low Earth orbit when Agena-B failed to reignite. Flight testing was a success, but little science data was returned.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1961-021A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-1/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-1

Ranger 3     |    1/28/1962

A malfunction in the booster guidance system resulted in excessive spacecraft speed. The TM antenna lost earth acquisition after command signals were reversed due to the spacecraft pitching in the wrong direction.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-001A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-3/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-3

Ranger 5     |    10/18/1962

The spacecraft failed to receive power. The batteries ran down after 8 hours, 44 minutes, rendering the spacecraft inoperable.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-055A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-5/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/ranger-5

Mars Observer     |    9/21/1993

Fuel line ruptured during fuel tank pressurization, causing the spacecraft to spin uncontrollably and communication to be lost.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1992-063A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-observer/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-observer

Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)     |    12/21/1998

High-gain antenna and gyroscope failures sent SOHO into

a spin. Power was lost after high-gain Y- axis stepper motor failure.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1995-065A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/soho/in-depth/

Mars Climate Orbiter     |    9/23/1999

Navigation error due to units being sent in English instead of being converted to metric. Incorrect units caused the craft to miss its target altitude.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1998-073A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-climate-orbiter/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-climate-orbiter

Galileo Orbiter     |    9/21/2003

Failed to reduce data rate after communication was lost. Extended mission was a successes until decommissioned into Jupiter.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-084B

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/galileo

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/galileo-probe/in-depth/

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/galileo/overview/

Mars Global Surveyor     |    11/21/2006

Preliminary indication of unknown solar panel failure resulted in insufficient power generation. Unrecoverable when safe mode was engaged after contact was lost.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1996-062A

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-global-surveyor/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-global-surveyor

STEREO-B     |    10/1/2014

Communication was lost and ground observation indicated the spacecraft was spinning uncontrollably. Attempts to recover resulted in increasing spin due to the frozen prop valve. Declared lost on 10/17/2018.

Source(s):

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2006-047B