Functionality Mistakes Throughout History That Were Way Too Expensive to Fix

In February 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster underscored the grave risks of space travel, claiming the lives of all seven crew members during a catastrophic re-entry incident, highlighting the inherent dangers of shuttle missions.

During its launch, Columbia was struck by a detached foam piece from its tank, severely damaging the left wing. This critical damage led to the shuttle’s disintegration upon re-entry, resulting in $6 billion in damages and halting NASA’s launches for two years.