Rockets don't explode they experience "Anomalies"

baq · on Oct 28, 2014

the technical term seems to be 'rapid unscheduled disassembly'

mixmax · on Oct 29, 2014

actually the correct technical term to use here would be CATO - Catastrophe At Take Off

zorkian · on Oct 29, 2014

Only slightly less euphemistic than flying's CFIT - Controlled Flight Into Terrain. AKA "whoops, the ground".

hudibras · on Oct 29, 2014

And going the other direction, euphemistically-wise, the U.S. military's official designation for things* that fall off aircraft is TFOA: Things Falling Off Aircraft.

*Anything from loose nuts or fasteners up to improperly-attached fuel tanks or bombs.

SAI_Peregrinus · on Oct 30, 2014

Also known as lithobraking.