At the moment the sky is gargling thunder. I am here waiting, holding these blank pages with a pause of gratitude and a slight grin. Today I have learned something new. The topic for this essay has just landed in my lap. Slowly read that title again.
I now know that RUD is an acronym for Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly. These three letters may also be an appropriate synonym for a crash, a terminal explosion, a new beginning, a disaster, or a teachable moment. I will confess, the first time I heard this expression resulted in an eye roll a smirk. I have recorded the term in my journal for future research and reflection. I will consider it useful terminology when filing an insurance claim. If my car hits a tree or a tornado rips the roof off my house, there will certainly be a rapid unscheduled disassembly to document.
A bit of research suggests the term RUD may have first originated on forums discussing the online game Kerbal Space Program, a complex and difficult simulation that tasks players with building spaceships and maneuvering them in orbit. Apparently, the fanbase has been inspired to develop a few extra euphemisms for “my rocket blew up.”
There’s a bit more backstory for context. Space X is a private spaceflight company associated with a man named Elon Musk. As recently as April 2023, Space X launched Starship, the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built. The flight ended at the four-minute mark with a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.” In other words, it blew up. Ideally, rockets aren’t supposed to explode.
Even with a RUD, the ambitious goal of gathering enough speed to clear the launch pad is being acknowledged as successful. Elon Musk and his employees support the notion that we can discover something from this explode-as-you-learn event. Perhaps, there is some truth to the concept of learning from our mistakes. Knowing what not to do can be helpful when learning the specifics of what to do.
Reflect with me on this notion of RUD. Has a rapid unscheduled disassembly of anything ever impacted you personally? When you were a toddler did you panic when your block tower collapsed? Did it require a fresh start? Can mistakes actually inspire perseverance? How memorable is any unscheduled disassembly? Let’s consider what happens when negative events become a catalyst for good.
Suppose a flat tire forces your vehicle into the ditch and during routine repairs you discover pre-existing damage to the axle? Would a RUD be something you were able to learn from? Perchance, in spite of the expense, the event made it possible to avoid an even greater disaster in the future. Investigating the details of a rapid unscheduled disassembly may actually improve future safety features. How many car crashes did it take to inspire seat belts becoming law? Can technology improve as a result of undesirable intentions?
I’m encouraging some fresh perspective. Determination, wisdom, and perception are excellent motivators in the event of a RUD. A sinking ship may teach us a great deal about how to keep a ship afloat. Unintended consequences are not totally negative.
What crisis in your life might add caution to your perspective? Is there a RUD in your future? The results could be useful. Failure may precede success. Consider the opportunities.
I now know that RUD is an acronym for Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly. These three letters may also be an appropriate synonym for a crash, a terminal explosion, a new beginning, a disaster, or a teachable moment. I will confess, the first time I heard this expression resulted in an eye roll a smirk. I have recorded the term in my journal for future research and reflection. I will consider it useful terminology when filing an insurance claim. If my car hits a tree or a tornado rips the roof off my house, there will certainly be a rapid unscheduled disassembly to document.
A bit of research suggests the term RUD may have first originated on forums discussing the online game Kerbal Space Program, a complex and difficult simulation that tasks players with building spaceships and maneuvering them in orbit. Apparently, the fanbase has been inspired to develop a few extra euphemisms for “my rocket blew up.”
There’s a bit more backstory for context. Space X is a private spaceflight company associated with a man named Elon Musk. As recently as April 2023, Space X launched Starship, the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built. The flight ended at the four-minute mark with a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.” In other words, it blew up. Ideally, rockets aren’t supposed to explode.
Even with a RUD, the ambitious goal of gathering enough speed to clear the launch pad is being acknowledged as successful. Elon Musk and his employees support the notion that we can discover something from this explode-as-you-learn event. Perhaps, there is some truth to the concept of learning from our mistakes. Knowing what not to do can be helpful when learning the specifics of what to do.
Reflect with me on this notion of RUD. Has a rapid unscheduled disassembly of anything ever impacted you personally? When you were a toddler did you panic when your block tower collapsed? Did it require a fresh start? Can mistakes actually inspire perseverance? How memorable is any unscheduled disassembly? Let’s consider what happens when negative events become a catalyst for good.
Suppose a flat tire forces your vehicle into the ditch and during routine repairs you discover pre-existing damage to the axle? Would a RUD be something you were able to learn from? Perchance, in spite of the expense, the event made it possible to avoid an even greater disaster in the future. Investigating the details of a rapid unscheduled disassembly may actually improve future safety features. How many car crashes did it take to inspire seat belts becoming law? Can technology improve as a result of undesirable intentions?
I’m encouraging some fresh perspective. Determination, wisdom, and perception are excellent motivators in the event of a RUD. A sinking ship may teach us a great deal about how to keep a ship afloat. Unintended consequences are not totally negative.
What crisis in your life might add caution to your perspective? Is there a RUD in your future? The results could be useful. Failure may precede success. Consider the opportunities.
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