disassembly

[bbeeton]

This morning, a test launch of a SpaceX Starship rocket got off the ground, but exploded before the second stage separated. When asked for comments, the SpaceX representative responded “Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly.” What a marvelous and memorable euphemism!

[Slava]

I thought that sounded familiar! And, in a rare, at least for me, instance, the internot actually came through. Here's a link to a discussion on the origins of this phrase:

https://space.stackexchange.com/questio ... isassembly

[bbeeton]

Great work, Slava!

I used to, and may still, have a published glossary of terms coined, mostly by the military, during WWII. Very colorful while managing to omit outright profanity. I do hope I find it while sorting through my library to find good homes for the choice items.