Обычно NASA такой хренотенью занимается, но Air Force это почти то же самое

Erasmus Darwin had a theory that once in a while one should perform a damn-fool experiment. It almost always fails, but when it does come off the result is terrific. Darwin played the trombone to his tulips. The result of this particular experiment was negative.
- J.E.Littlewood "A mathematician's miscellany"

По-моему, в "Голосе хозяина" Лема один персонаж таким занимался.