Functionality Mistakes Throughout History That Were Way Too Expensive to Fix

In 2003, Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, California experienced a costly mishap when the NOAA-N Prime Satellite was accidentally knocked over, incurring $135 million in damages. Satellites, despite their robust appearance, require meticulous construction and handling, demonstrating the high stakes involved in aerospace engineering.

The incident occurred as Lockheed Martin personnel attempted to reposition the satellite, inadvertently causing it to crash due to the omission of 24 securing bolts. The company chose to absorb the repair costs, including forfeiting their profit and an additional $30 million, with the U.S. government covering the remainder. This expensive oversight did little to improve governmental relations.