Space Missions Failed in 2021

We have previously shared with you the space missions planned to take place in 2022. Developing space technologies continue to pave the way for space exploration. Every year, we are one step closer to the unknown about space.

Projects that pave the way for new research are not always successful. Even in 2021 alone, many space missions have failed for various reasons. We’ve gathered together the disappointing space missions that were just as effective in the development of new projects as successful space missions. Let’s look at the unfortunate projects of 2021 together before we witness the new space missions that we hope will all be successful in the new year.

iSpace’s Hyperbola-1 rocket malfunctioned

The Hyperbola-1 rocket, specially built by the Chinese space company iSpace, was successfully launched on July 25, 2019. The second launch attempt to take place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on February 1, 2021 failed. The rocket could not go into space due to a technical glitch during takeoff.

iSpace Hyperbola-1 rocket failed again

iSpace’s Hyperbola-1 rocket again made a test flight at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on August 3. It did not go as planned due to abnormal performance during the flight. The rocket failed again.

US hypersonic missile failed 3 times

The hypersonic missile AGM-183A, designed for the US Air Force (USAF), was launched on April 5, 2021 from Edwards Air Force Base in California for prototype retrofit testing. The system, which was designed to be launched during flight, did not succeed. The missile, which could not be successfully integrated into the B-52H Stratofortress carrier aircraft, could not fly. The aircraft returned to the take-off area with the missile still attached. Two more launch attempts after the first attempt were also unsuccessful.

Rocket Lab Electron Booster failed

The Rocket Lab Electron Booster was unable to reach orbit due to a mishap in the first minutes of its flight on May 15, 2021. Two Earth observation satellites produced by Spaceflight for the BlackSky company were lost during the event.

Astra Space’s orbital test flight failed

Aerospace company Astra Space terminated the flight due to the anomaly observed in the 3rd minute of the test flight of the two-stage Launch Vehicle 0006, which took place at the Pacific Space Port Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Although its flight on 28 August was unsuccessful, the company’s research team found the solution to the problem and was able to reach orbit for the first time on 20 November.

India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Failed

The Indian Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, a new Earth observation satellite, could not perform a successful flight due to technical glitch. The flight, which took place at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India, did not conclude as intended, as the third stage of the rocket did not fire as expected.

Firefly Aerospace’s first Alpha rocket explodes in mid-air

Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket launched on September 2 for the company’s first orbital test flight. The abnormality was observed after a few minutes of flight of the rocket, which took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Having a two-stage problem, the Alpha rocket almost turned into a fireball in the air.

Satellite malfunction experienced in flight of China’s Long March rocket

Long March, China’s long-walk 3D rocket, was successfully launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on September 27. The satellite, named Shiyan-10, was lost after the flight. Although a successful flight took place, the space mission was not successfully completed.

Project with Nuri, South Korea’s first rocket, failed

The flight of South Korea’s Nuri rocket on October 21 started quite successfully. But the rocket’s payload failed to reach orbit. Although a payload could not be placed on the targeted orbit during the mission, the rocket successfully completed the flight.

Kosmos 2551 malfunctioned and crashed

The Russian spy satellite Kosmos 2551 was successfully launched on September 9 but failed to enter orbit. It returned to Earth on October 20, days after the flight.

Expace Kuaizhou 1A failed

Kuaizhou 1A, manufactured by the Chinese company Expace, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on December 14. However, the rocket flew abnormally and the launch mission failed.