Adaptation Beyond Earth

Zond 6 adapted lunar-distance reentry, enduring 4–7 g of deceleration before parachute-triggering failure destroyed the capsule.

Deep Space 1’s ion propulsion, thrust from accelerated ions, operated 16,265 hours and produced 4.3 kilometres per second of delta-V.

Genesis adapted after a failed parachute return: its collected solar-wind material, particles flowing from the Sun, remained scientifically useful.

Akatsuki adapted after original propulsion failure, eventually entering Venus orbit in 2015.