Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun US, slang A
NASA astronaut orengineer who quicklydevises aningenious solution to a toughproblem while under extreme pressure.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
American circa 1960s, as heard in the movie Apollo 13 and found in numerous biographies about NASA astronauts and flight controllers.
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reesetee commented on the word steely-eyed missile man
American slang, c. 1960s, to describe a NASA astronaut or engineer who significantly contributes to or devises an ingenious solution to a tough problem.
October 15, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word steely-eyed missile man
Really? I thought it was for the behind-the-scenes dudes exclusively. Though I guess the astronauts certainly worked (work) behind the scenes as well...
I think I originally saw this term applied to John Aaron.
July 24, 2009
reesetee commented on the word steely-eyed missile man
I've seen it used both ways, but Gene Kranz's name invariably comes up. :-)
July 29, 2009