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disassembly

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 12:58 pm
by 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!

Re: disassembly

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 4:51 pm
by 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

Re: disassembly

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 12:52 pm
by 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.