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In contrast to the satirical lyric by Tom Lehrer, here's an actual quote attributed to von Braun: “The rocket worked perfectly, except for landing on the wrong
by robgibbons 5y ago
In contrast to the satirical lyric by Tom Lehrer, here's an actual quote attributed to von Braun:
“The rocket worked perfectly, except for landing on the wrong planet.“ — Wernher von Braun remark to a colleague after the first V-2 rocket hit London (September 1944), as quoted in Apollo in Perspective: Spaceflight Then and Now (1999) by Jonathan Allday, p. 85
- jacquesm 5y agoI think it is safe to assume that Von Braun was never under any illusions as to on what planet his rockets were going to come down and what was going to be the result of that. So even if Tom Lehrer took some artistic license I think he's on the money.
- CRConrad 5y agoThe most generous reading would probably be something like he wished he were shooting for other planets, in stead of cities with people in. Dunno whether to buy that, but at least doesn't feel totally implausible.