🚀 Space Exploration Mission

Blast off into our team's own space adventure! Let’s chart the stars of success, encounter black holes of challenges, and plot a course for an even greater mission ahead. Suit up and join this cosmic retro!
40–60 min
4-10 people
Based on: What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
🚀 Space Exploration Mission

Template Columns

🌟 Mission Accomplished

Highlight our successful launches, teamwork, and discoveries from this mission.

Base column: What Went Well
🛰️ System Malfunctions

Reveal any setbacks, obstacles, or unexpected space debris we faced.

Base column: What Went Wrong
đź”­ New Horizons

Suggest improvements and bold maneuvers for our next interstellar journey.

Base column: What We Want to Improve

About this template

The Space Exploration Mission retrospective invites your team to celebrate achievements, address challenges, and set an adventurous course for improvement—framed as an interstellar journey.

When to use this template

Ideal after a major sprint, project launch, or when your team needs creative energy to reflect and plan forward. Great for teams seeking fresh perspectives or overcoming a tough milestone.

How to facilitate

1

Set the space adventure tone by welcoming everyone to the mission and explaining the cosmic theme to energize the group

2

Give each team member a few minutes to silently add reflections in each column: what was accomplished, what went wrong, and future improvements

3

Invite participants to share their highlights from Mission Accomplished, celebrating successes as a crew

4

Discuss System Malfunctions together, ensuring a safe environment to openly share obstacles and surprises without assigning blame

5

Collaboratively explore New Horizons by brainstorming actionable improvements and bold ideas for the future mission

6

Group similar cards, then vote as a team on the top priorities to focus on for the next sprint or project

7

Define concrete actions and assign mission leads to ensure follow-through on improvements

Pro Tips

Encourage playful language and metaphors to boost team engagement and creativity

Revisit previous retro actions to see if past black holes have been closed or if they still linger

Balance celebrating achievements with honest discussion of setbacks to keep energy and learning high

Invite quieter crew members to share their perspectives so all voices contribute to the mission

Wrap up by naming the next 'mission objective' as a fun way to motivate action

FAQ

What if participants aren't familiar with the space theme?

Briefly explain each column's metaphor before you start and focus on the underlying intent so everyone feels comfortable participating.

How can we get actionable insights from a creative template?

Close each column’s discussion by summarizing concrete takeaways and translating them into clear, assignable tasks.

What if the conversation drifts away from improvement?

Gently guide the team back by connecting discussions to the 'New Horizons' column and naming next actions.

Is this format suitable for serious topics?

The playful theme lightens the mood but can handle tough issues if the facilitator encourages honesty and psychological safety.

Want a custom template?

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At a glance

  • Duration

    40–60 min

  • Team Size

    4-10 people

  • Columns

    3 columns

  • Base Format

    What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve

Tags

celebration
team health
action-oriented
engagement
creative
virtual-friendly

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective