I had a good laugh last night when I found out only 19 out of 39 missions to Mars actually made their destination. The excuses were pretty golden considering they mirrored my own KSP experience. Check out some of the reasons: http://airandspace.si.edu/etp/mars/explore_missions.html Oct. 10, 1960 Korabl 4 Failed in Earth orbit Oct. 24, 1962 Korabl 11 Failed to leave Earth orbit Nov. 1, 1962 Mars 1 Lost communications Mar. 21, 1963 Nov. 4, 1962 Korabl 13 Failed in Earth orbit, reentered Nov. 5 Nov. 5, 1964 Mariner 3 Launch failure, entered solar orbit Nov. 30, 1964 Zond 2 Lost communications May 1965 July 3, 1998 Nozomi Failed to achieve trajectory to reach Mars orbit and ran out of fuel.