diff --git a/scripts/build-owner-flags.mjs b/scripts/build-owner-flags.mjs
index 99b7a7545..9ca7ed083 100644
--- a/scripts/build-owner-flags.mjs
+++ b/scripts/build-owner-flags.mjs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  *   src/ui/ownerFlagSheet.js                           its layout (generated)
  *
  * Flag i (in the sorted code list) sits at column i % COLUMNS, row
- * floor(i / COLUMNS). A rerun with the same flag-icons and sharp versions
+ * floor(i / COLUMNS), each cell followed by a GUTTER of transparent pixels. A rerun with the same flag-icons and sharp versions
  * reproduces both files.
  *
  * Usage: node scripts/build-owner-flags.mjs
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ const FLAG_ICONS_VERSION = require('flag-icons/package.json').version;
 
 /** One flag's cell, CSS pixels × 2. */
 export const CELL = Object.freeze({ width: 40, height: 30 });
+/**
+ * Transparent sheet pixels after each flag, so a browser smoothing a scaled
+ * flag (a 125% display) never reaches into its neighbour.
+ */
+export const GUTTER = 2;
 export const COLUMNS = 16;
 
 const SHEET = path.join(
@@ -51,11 +56,13 @@ async function flagCell(code) {
 
 const codes = [...OWNER_COUNTRY_CODES];
 const rows = Math.ceil(codes.length / COLUMNS);
+const pitchX = CELL.width + GUTTER;
+const pitchY = CELL.height + GUTTER;
 const cells = await Promise.all(codes.map(flagCell));
 const sheet = await sharp({
   create: {
-    width: COLUMNS * CELL.width,
-    height: rows * CELL.height,
+    width: COLUMNS * pitchX,
+    height: rows * pitchY,
     channels: 4,
     background: { r: 0, g: 0, b: 0, alpha: 0 },
   },
@@ -63,8 +70,8 @@ const sheet = await sharp({
   .composite(
     cells.map((input, i) => ({
       input,
-      left: (i % COLUMNS) * CELL.width,
-      top: Math.floor(i / COLUMNS) * CELL.height,
+      left: (i % COLUMNS) * pitchX,
+      top: Math.floor(i / COLUMNS) * pitchY,
     })),
   )
   .png({ compressionLevel: 9, palette: true, quality: 100, effort: 10 })
@@ -76,6 +83,7 @@ const layout = `// Generated by scripts/build-owner-flags.mjs from flag-icons ${
 export const OWNER_FLAG_SHEET = Object.freeze({
   cellWidthPx: ${CELL.width},
   cellHeightPx: ${CELL.height},
+  gutterPx: ${GUTTER},
   columns: ${COLUMNS},
   rows: ${rows},
   codes: Object.freeze(${JSON.stringify(codes)}),
diff --git a/scripts/format-scope.json b/scripts/format-scope.json
index 887c72eb7..7b09e8077 100644
--- a/scripts/format-scope.json
+++ b/scripts/format-scope.json
@@ -1366,5 +1366,7 @@
   "server/providers/inaturalist/proxy.fixture.mjs",
   "scripts/build-owner-flags.mjs",
   "src/ui/ownerFlagSheet.js",
-  "src/data/placePacksLoading.test.mjs"
+  "src/data/placePacksLoading.test.mjs",
+  "src/ui/placePacksLoading.js",
+  "src/ui/placePacksLoading.test.mjs"
 ]
diff --git a/scripts/package-boundaries.json b/scripts/package-boundaries.json
index 997191dbb..f7fd906a7 100644
--- a/scripts/package-boundaries.json
+++ b/scripts/package-boundaries.json
@@ -1069,6 +1069,7 @@
       "src/cockpitOrbitalSatellites.js",
       "src/layers/installations/classLabel.js",
       "src/data/placeBelow.js",
+      "src/ui/placePacksLoading.js",
       "src/ui/ownerFlag.js",
       "src/ui/ownerFlagSheet.js",
       "src/layers/satellites/sensors.js",
@@ -2916,6 +2917,7 @@
       "src/ui/cockpitOrbitalSatellites.js",
       "src/cockpitOrbitalSatellites.js",
       "src/data/placeBelow.js",
+      "src/ui/placePacksLoading.js",
       "src/ui/ownerFlag.js",
       "src/ui/ownerFlagSheet.js",
       "src/ui/cockpitContext.js",
diff --git a/src/data/local_data/owner_flags/README.md b/src/data/local_data/owner_flags/README.md
index 60a02a919..ed0dc071a 100644
--- a/src/data/local_data/owner_flags/README.md
+++ b/src/data/local_data/owner_flags/README.md
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 `owner_flags.png` is one sheet of every owner country a satellite can be
 marked with (`OWNER_COUNTRY_CODES` in `src/layers/satellites/classes.js`),
 drawn at 40 × 30 px (twice the orbital readout's 20 × 15) in sorted code
-order, 16 to a row. `src/ui/ownerFlag.js` loads it once at startup and draws
+order, 16 to a row, each followed by 2 transparent pixels so a scaled flag
+never smooths into its neighbour. `src/ui/ownerFlag.js` loads it once at startup and draws
 each flag from its cell; the layout is `src/ui/ownerFlagSheet.js`.
 
 **Source:** the 4:3 SVGs of [flag-icons](https://github.com/lipis/flag-icons)
diff --git a/src/data/local_data/owner_flags/owner_flags.png b/src/data/local_data/owner_flags/owner_flags.png
index fd1826a0e..99e3d07b0 100644
Binary files a/src/data/local_data/owner_flags/owner_flags.png and b/src/data/local_data/owner_flags/owner_flags.png differ
diff --git a/src/data/placeBelow.js b/src/data/placeBelow.js
index 67e120fa9..b5bdff4f2 100644
--- a/src/data/placeBelow.js
+++ b/src/data/placeBelow.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  * PURE data module: no Cesium, node-testable. Each pack loads lazily on the
  * first lookup that needs it (divisions on the first land hit, places on the
  * first radius) and is indexed once, and the loading status names them while
- * one is on its way (`placePacksLoading`); a country's division rings are decoded
+ * one is on its way (`placePacksStatus`); a country's division rings are decoded
  * the first time a point falls inside it. A failed load is retried later
  * (see `createRetryableLoader`). No network.
  */
@@ -47,8 +47,9 @@ const PACKS = {
   ),
 };
 
-/** The packs on their way now, for the loading status. */
+/** The packs on their way now, and those whose last load failed. */
 const loadingPacks = new Set();
+const failedPacks = new Set();
 const loadingListeners = new Set();
 
 function notifyLoading() {
@@ -61,13 +62,25 @@ function notifyLoading() {
   }
 }
 
-/** A pack load that the loading status counts while it runs. */
-function reportedLoad(name, load) {
+/**
+ * A pack load that the loading status follows: on its way while it runs,
+ * failed until a later load of it succeeds.
+ * @template T
+ * @param {string} name
+ * @param {() => Promise<T>} load
+ * @returns {() => Promise<T>}
+ */
+export function reportedPlacePackLoad(name, load) {
   return async () => {
     loadingPacks.add(name);
     notifyLoading();
     try {
-      return await load();
+      const result = await load();
+      failedPacks.delete(name);
+      return result;
+    } catch (error) {
+      failedPacks.add(name);
+      throw error;
     } finally {
       loadingPacks.delete(name);
       notifyLoading();
@@ -76,12 +89,13 @@ function reportedLoad(name, load) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Whether a place pack is loading now. The packs load lazily, on the first
- * lookup that needs them, so the loading status says so meanwhile.
- * @returns {boolean}
+ * The place packs' state for the loading status. The packs load lazily, on
+ * the first lookup that needs them, so the status says so meanwhile, and
+ * says when one would not load.
+ * @returns {{loading: boolean, failed: boolean}}
  */
-export function placePacksLoading() {
-  return loadingPacks.size > 0;
+export function placePacksStatus() {
+  return { loading: loadingPacks.size > 0, failed: failedPacks.size > 0 };
 }
 
 /**
@@ -191,7 +205,9 @@ async function readPlaces() {
   }
   return { land, water };
 }
-const loadPlaces = createRetryableLoader(reportedLoad('places', readPlaces));
+const loadPlaces = createRetryableLoader(
+  reportedPlacePackLoad('places', readPlaces),
+);
 
 /** Divisions grouped by country code; rings decoded per country on demand. */
 async function readDivisions() {
@@ -208,7 +224,7 @@ async function readDivisions() {
   return { byCountry, decoded: new Map() };
 }
 const loadDivisions = createRetryableLoader(
-  reportedLoad('divisions', readDivisions),
+  reportedPlacePackLoad('divisions', readDivisions),
 );
 
 /** The first-level division holding a point inside country `code`, or null. */
@@ -243,7 +259,7 @@ async function readPopulatedPlaces() {
   );
 }
 const loadPopulatedPlaces = createRetryableLoader(
-  reportedLoad('populated-places', readPopulatedPlaces),
+  reportedPlacePackLoad('populated-places', readPopulatedPlaces),
 );
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/data/placePacksLoading.test.mjs b/src/data/placePacksLoading.test.mjs
index ff1837a3d..2d95afd49 100644
--- a/src/data/placePacksLoading.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/placePacksLoading.test.mjs
@@ -8,16 +8,30 @@ test('a place pack load is reported from its start to its end', async () => {
   const place = await import('./placeBelow.js?loading-status');
   const heard = [];
   const stop = place.onPlacePacksLoadingChange(() =>
-    heard.push(place.placePacksLoading()),
+    heard.push(place.placePacksStatus().loading),
   );
-  assert.equal(place.placePacksLoading(), false);
+  assert.equal(place.placePacksStatus().loading, false);
   const lookup = place.nearPlace(48.86, 2.35, 50);
-  assert.equal(place.placePacksLoading(), true, 'on its way');
+  assert.equal(place.placePacksStatus().loading, true, 'on its way');
   assert.equal(await lookup, 'Paris');
-  assert.equal(place.placePacksLoading(), false, 'loaded');
+  assert.equal(place.placePacksStatus().loading, false, 'loaded');
   assert.deepEqual(heard, [true, false]);
   // Loaded once: a later lookup is not reported again.
   await place.nearPlace(48.86, 2.35, 50);
   assert.deepEqual(heard, [true, false]);
   stop();
 });
+
+test('a pack that would not load stays failed until it loads', async () => {
+  const place = await import('./placeBelow.js?failed-status');
+  let fail = true;
+  const load = place.reportedPlacePackLoad('test', async () => {
+    if (fail) throw new Error('offline');
+    return 1;
+  });
+  await assert.rejects(load(), /offline/);
+  assert.deepEqual(place.placePacksStatus(), { loading: false, failed: true });
+  fail = false;
+  assert.equal(await load(), 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(place.placePacksStatus(), { loading: false, failed: false });
+});
diff --git a/src/ui/applicationShell.js b/src/ui/applicationShell.js
index 4cf9643d7..7bffa4d4d 100644
--- a/src/ui/applicationShell.js
+++ b/src/ui/applicationShell.js
@@ -64,26 +64,10 @@ import { useLocationStore } from './stores/location.js';
 import { useCockpitStore } from './stores/cockpit.js';
 import { useGlobeActionsStore } from './stores/globeActions.js';
 import { useRecordingStore } from './stores/recording.js';
-import {
-  onPlacePacksLoadingChange,
-  placePacksLoading,
-} from '../data/placeBelow.js';
-import { LOADING_NAME_KEYS } from './layerNames.js';
+import { onPlacePacksLoadingChange } from '../data/placeBelow.js';
+import { withPlacePacks } from './placePacksLoading.js';
 import { preloadOwnerFlags } from './ownerFlag.js';
 
-/** The place packs, as one more loading entry while they are on their way. */
-const PLACE_PACKS_LOADING = Object.freeze({
-  id: 'place-names',
-  name: LOADING_NAME_KEYS['place-names'],
-  enabled: true,
-  stats: Object.freeze({ loading: true }),
-});
-
-/** The data layers, with the place packs while they load. */
-function withPlacePacks(layers) {
-  return placePacksLoading() ? [...layers, PLACE_PACKS_LOADING] : layers;
-}
-
 /**
  * Central UI orchestrator for the God's Eye View application.
  *
diff --git a/src/ui/cockpitOrbital.test.mjs b/src/ui/cockpitOrbital.test.mjs
index 5de131693..987527c28 100644
--- a/src/ui/cockpitOrbital.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/cockpitOrbital.test.mjs
@@ -222,14 +222,20 @@ test('an owner country shows its flag from the sheet, or its code if the sheet w
   await settle();
   // No sheet: the code, so the owner never disappears.
   assert.equal(f.text('.cockpit-orbital-owner-badge'), 'US');
+  // Another satellite of the same country asks again.
+  f.store.publishOrbital({ ...f.store.orbital, noradId: 43013 });
+  await nextTick();
+  assert.equal(images.length, 2, 'a new ride asks again');
+  images[1].onerror();
+  await settle();
   // The next flag asks again; this time the sheet comes.
   f.store.publishOrbital({
     ...f.store.orbital,
     owner: { countryCode: 'FR', label: 'France' },
   });
   await nextTick();
-  assert.equal(images.length, 2);
-  images[1].onload();
+  assert.equal(images.length, 3);
+  images[2].onload();
   await settle();
   const flag = f.section().querySelector('.cockpit-orbital-flag');
   assert.equal(flag.getAttribute('role'), 'img');
diff --git a/src/ui/ownerFlag.js b/src/ui/ownerFlag.js
index 750b36e43..5020143c6 100644
--- a/src/ui/ownerFlag.js
+++ b/src/ui/ownerFlag.js
@@ -62,12 +62,18 @@ export function preloadOwnerFlags({
 export function ownerFlagStyle(code, { widthPx = 20, heightPx = 15 } = {}) {
   const index = SHEET_INDEX.get(code);
   if (index === undefined) return null;
-  const column = index % OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.columns;
-  const row = Math.floor(index / OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.columns);
+  const sheet = OWNER_FLAG_SHEET;
+  const column = index % sheet.columns;
+  const row = Math.floor(index / sheet.columns);
+  // A cell and its gutter, in CSS pixels at this size.
+  const pitchX =
+    (widthPx * (sheet.cellWidthPx + sheet.gutterPx)) / sheet.cellWidthPx;
+  const pitchY =
+    (heightPx * (sheet.cellHeightPx + sheet.gutterPx)) / sheet.cellHeightPx;
   return {
     backgroundImage: `url("${OWNER_FLAG_SHEET_URL}")`,
-    backgroundSize: `${OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.columns * widthPx}px ${OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.rows * heightPx}px`,
-    backgroundPosition: `${-column * widthPx}px ${-row * heightPx}px`,
+    backgroundSize: `${sheet.columns * pitchX}px ${sheet.rows * pitchY}px`,
+    backgroundPosition: `${-column * pitchX}px ${-row * pitchY}px`,
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ui/ownerFlag.test.mjs b/src/ui/ownerFlag.test.mjs
index 737ab018d..d1d6bf455 100644
--- a/src/ui/ownerFlag.test.mjs
+++ b/src/ui/ownerFlag.test.mjs
@@ -69,28 +69,34 @@ test('the sheet holds every owner country a satellite can be marked with', () =>
   );
   // The PNG is as large as its layout says (width and height at bytes 16-23).
   const png = readFileSync(new URL(OWNER_FLAG_SHEET_URL));
+  const { cellWidthPx, cellHeightPx, gutterPx } = OWNER_FLAG_SHEET;
   assert.equal(
     png.readUInt32BE(16),
-    OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.columns * OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.cellWidthPx,
+    OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.columns * (cellWidthPx + gutterPx),
   );
   assert.equal(
     png.readUInt32BE(20),
-    OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.rows * OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.cellHeightPx,
+    OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.rows * (cellHeightPx + gutterPx),
   );
 });
 
 test('a flag is drawn from its cell of the sheet, at the size asked', () => {
+  // 40 × 30 sheet cells with a 2 px gutter, drawn at 20 × 15: each cell and
+  // its gutter is 21 × 16 CSS pixels.
+  assert.equal(OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.cellWidthPx, 40);
+  assert.equal(OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.cellHeightPx, 30);
+  assert.equal(OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.gutterPx, 2);
   const columns = OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.columns;
   const index = OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.codes.indexOf('US');
   const style = ownerFlagStyle('US');
   assert.equal(style.backgroundImage, `url("${OWNER_FLAG_SHEET_URL}")`);
   assert.equal(
     style.backgroundSize,
-    `${columns * 20}px ${OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.rows * 15}px`,
+    `${columns * 21}px ${OWNER_FLAG_SHEET.rows * 16}px`,
   );
   assert.equal(
     style.backgroundPosition,
-    `${-(index % columns) * 20}px ${-Math.floor(index / columns) * 15}px`,
+    `${-(index % columns) * 21}px ${-Math.floor(index / columns) * 16}px`,
   );
   // The first flag sits at the corner.
   assert.equal(
diff --git a/src/ui/ownerFlagSheet.js b/src/ui/ownerFlagSheet.js
index dec6ef8e6..723bf00de 100644
--- a/src/ui/ownerFlagSheet.js
+++ b/src/ui/ownerFlagSheet.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 export const OWNER_FLAG_SHEET = Object.freeze({
   cellWidthPx: 40,
   cellHeightPx: 30,
+  gutterPx: 2,
   columns: 16,
   rows: 7,
   codes: Object.freeze([
diff --git a/src/ui/placePacksLoading.js b/src/ui/placePacksLoading.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f18d79769
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/placePacksLoading.js
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/**
+ * The place packs in the top-centre loading status: they load lazily, on the
+ * Cockpit's first place lookup (`src/data/placeBelow.js`), so while one is on
+ * its way the status names them beside the layers, and a pack that would not
+ * load makes the batch end LOAD FAILED.
+ */
+
+import { placePacksStatus } from '../data/placeBelow.js';
+import { LOADING_NAME_KEYS } from './layerNames.js';
+
+/**
+ * The data layers, with the place packs as one more entry while they load
+ * or after one would not load, so a batch they join ends LOAD FAILED rather
+ * than LOAD COMPLETE.
+ */
+export function withPlacePacks(
+  layers,
+  { loading, failed } = placePacksStatus(),
+) {
+  if (!loading && !failed) return layers;
+  return [
+    ...layers,
+    {
+      id: 'place-names',
+      name: LOADING_NAME_KEYS['place-names'],
+      enabled: true,
+      stats: { loading, error: failed ? 'Place names did not load' : null },
+    },
+  ];
+}
diff --git a/src/ui/placePacksLoading.test.mjs b/src/ui/placePacksLoading.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..09db21fc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ui/placePacksLoading.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+// src/ui/placePacksLoading.test.mjs — the loading status names the place
+// packs while they load, and a failed pack ends the batch as failed.
+import test from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import {
+  aggregateLayerLoading,
+  createLoadingFeedbackState,
+  reduceLoadingFeedback,
+} from '../loadingFeedback.js';
+import { withPlacePacks } from './placePacksLoading.js';
+
+const SATELLITES = Object.freeze({
+  id: 'satellites',
+  name: 'Satellites',
+  enabled: true,
+  stats: { count: 9000, lastUpdate: 1 },
+});
+
+function batch(states) {
+  let state = createLoadingFeedbackState();
+  let now = 0;
+  for (const status of states) {
+    now += 1000;
+    state = reduceLoadingFeedback(
+      state,
+      aggregateLayerLoading(withPlacePacks([SATELLITES], status)),
+      now,
+    );
+  }
+  return state;
+}
+
+test('nothing extra while the packs are idle', () => {
+  const layers = [SATELLITES];
+  assert.equal(
+    withPlacePacks(layers, { loading: false, failed: false }),
+    layers,
+  );
+});
+
+test('the packs are named while they load', () => {
+  const summary = aggregateLayerLoading(
+    withPlacePacks([SATELLITES], { loading: true, failed: false }),
+  );
+  assert.deepEqual(summary.activeIds, ['place-names']);
+  assert.equal(summary.active[0].label, 'Place names');
+});
+
+test('a load that lands ends complete; one that fails ends failed', () => {
+  const loading = { loading: true, failed: false };
+  assert.equal(
+    batch([loading, { loading: false, failed: false }]).terminal,
+    'complete',
+  );
+  assert.equal(
+    batch([loading, { loading: false, failed: true }]).terminal,
+    'error',
+  );
+});
diff --git a/src/ui/styles/cockpitOrbital.css b/src/ui/styles/cockpitOrbital.css
index 6f0bd76f9..9e799f2be 100644
--- a/src/ui/styles/cockpitOrbital.css
+++ b/src/ui/styles/cockpitOrbital.css
@@ -200,6 +200,9 @@
   border: 1px solid var(--orbital-faint);
   border-radius: 1px;
   background-repeat: no-repeat;
+  /* Only the flag's own cell: the sheet's neighbours stay out from under
+     the border. */
+  background-clip: content-box;
 }
 .cockpit-orbital-owner-badge {
   flex: none;
diff --git a/src/ui/views/panels/CockpitOrbital.vue b/src/ui/views/panels/CockpitOrbital.vue
index 3e8083755..e43848d7e 100644
--- a/src/ui/views/panels/CockpitOrbital.vue
+++ b/src/ui/views/panels/CockpitOrbital.vue
@@ -195,9 +195,14 @@ const mark = computed(() =>
 const flagsReady = ref(false);
 const flagsFailed = ref(false);
 watch(
-  () => (mark.value?.kind === 'flag' ? mark.value.code : null),
-  async (code) => {
-    if (!code || flagsReady.value) return;
+  // Keyed on the satellite too: after a failed load, the next ride asks
+  // again even when its owner is the same country.
+  () =>
+    mark.value?.kind === 'flag'
+      ? `${mark.value.code}:${orbital.value?.noradId ?? ''}`
+      : null,
+  async (key) => {
+    if (!key || flagsReady.value) return;
     const ready = await preloadOwnerFlags();
     flagsReady.value = ready;
     flagsFailed.value = !ready;