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Letter: An unfortunate case of nominative determinism

Published 23 April 2025

From Dyane Silvester, Arnside, Cumbria, UK

Reading “A wobbly start to radio astronomy on the moon” got me wondering: did NASA, in a spectacular case of nominative determinism, seal the lander’s fate by naming the telescope mounted on it ROLSES-1? Perhaps someone should warn the agency not to use the name “Cosmic Radiation and Associated Solar Heating Interstellar Energy Sensor” (CRASHIES) for anything (29 March, p 10).

Issue no. 3540 published 26 April 2025

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