Space exploration has been an exhilarating journey for humanity over the past 70 years, filled with both incredible successes and heart-wrenching failures. Despite substantial progress in 2024, including China’s successful return of lunar samples from the far side of the Moon and a record-breaking private student rocket, we were reminded that venturing into the cosmos remains perilous. From astronauts stranded in an unfixable space station to tumbling solar sails, here are 10 of the most shocking setbacks in space missions this year.

1. Astronauts Trapped in Starliner Drama

The most talked-about blunder of 2024 involved Boeing's leaky Starliner capsule, which left NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) starting in June. Originally meant for a one-week mission, the astronauts are set to surpass an astonishing 200 days in space, with their return now postponed until at least March 2025. The arrival of the faulty capsule back on Earth without passengers in September has raised questions about safety protocols and design flaws.

2. ISS Leak Sparks New Concerns

Wilmore and Williams weren’t the only ones facing fears aboard the ISS. A new report exposed the urgency of addressing a long-standing leak in the Russian segment of the station, identifying 50 additional "areas of concern." This leak, first observed in 2019, could lead to catastrophic failures unless fixed—yet Roscosmos disputes the severity and seems unwilling to act, given the ISS’s planned decommissioning in 2030.

3. Florida Home Struck by Space Debris

In a bizarre twist, a chunk of space debris managed to crash through the roof of a home in Naples, Florida, raising alarm bells about the risks of space junk. The debris, which NASA confirmed as remnants of ejected batteries from the ISS, had been expected to disintegrate upon re-entry but instead plummeted to Earth, prompting the homeowners to file an ongoing lawsuit against NASA for damages.

4. Moon Landers Face Embarrassing Failures

2024 marked a dismal year for moon landers. Astrobiotic Technology’s Peregrine spacecraft malfunctioned shortly after its January launch, landing in the ocean instead of on the lunar surface. Meanwhile, Japan’s "moon sniper," the SLIM lander, flipped upside down during its touchdown. Although it survived minus its solar panels, its failed precision underlined the challenges faced in lunar exploration. The Odysseus lander from Intuitive Machines also made headlines with a disastrous faceplant, succumbing to the bitter temperatures of the lunar night shortly after its landing.

5. Distressing Issues with NASA’s Solar Sail

Aiming for the stars, NASA rolled out its Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) in April only for it to exhibits serious issues once it began operation in August. Images captured revealed the massive sail spinning out of control in orbit, with continued problems detected even months later, potentially jeopardizing its mission objectives.

6. Mars Rovers Encounter Dangerous Terrain

NASA’s Mars exploration efforts hit a snag as the Ingenuity helicopter met its end during a flight in January. While the helicopter may still provide data as a stationary weather station, its twilight highlights the dangers of Mars travel. Compounding this, the Curiosity rover suffered severe wheel damage yet continues its journey to mysterious Martian spiderwebs, raising concerns about maintenance for future missions.

7. Voyager Probes Struggle to Communicate

NASA’s iconic Voyager probes faced their own set of challenges after decades of smooth sailing. Voyager 1 transmitted unintelligible signals early in the year, and while partial fixes were successful, further technical issues arose with communications and propulsion later on. Voyager 2 had a quieter year, but the need to conserve power means it may go dark sooner than anticipated.

8. Falcon 9 Rockets Grounded for Safety Reasons

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, despite a record-setting launch schedule, was grounded three times due to significant malfunctions. From premature satellite releases to explosive landings, the series of events tested the company’s reliability and raised eyebrows among federal agencies tasked with ensuring safety.

9. Starship Lost in Communication Error

SpaceX's Starship rocket experienced a communication failure that led to its loss in the Indian Ocean during an early 2024 mission. Communication errors hampered the tracking of the vehicle, underscoring the risks associated with the ambitious Starship program, which had previously made headlines for its groundbreaking delivery of science payloads.

10. The Growing Threat of Space Debris

2024 also underscored the potential dangers of space congestion. June saw astronauts aboard the ISS taking shelter following a satellite breaking apart, while further incidents in August and October raised alarms about the increasing risk posed by space debris, jeopardizing future missions and space station safety.

As we reflect on these dramatic events, one question looms large: does humanity have what it takes to conquer the cosmos, or are we merely scratching the surface of unthinkable risks? The daring exploits of 2024 remind us that space remains an unpredictable frontier, filled with awe and peril.