False.
As has been explained dozens of times on r.m.r. and TRF and YORF in the past:
http://forums.rocketshoppe.com/show...26&postcount=23
Never has been and never will be an acronym, except for those folks who learned the incorrect meaning and origin from those who made up the acronym urban legend.
It is not an acronym, it is an abbreviation for Catastrophic Failure. Like "combo" is an abbreviation of "combination".
Many people assumed or were told it was an acronym, and some invented words to conform to the letters to create a false acronym. They then told others who believed them. The worst example (and most illogical) is "Catastrophe At Take Off". This is illogical for several reasons that any thinking person should be able to quickly realize:
1) Rockets do not "take-off". They "launch" or "lift-off" (if they are from the 1950's) they "blast-off".
2) motor failures which are Catos include failures that occur anytime during motor burn, including at ignition, 1/4 second after ignition as the rocket is already leaving the launch rod and all the way through dealy failure (which is also catastrophic).
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Originally Posted by jadebox
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