Great Galactic Ghoul

English

Proper noun

the Great Galactic Ghoul

1. (humorous) A notional space monster invoked to explain the high failure rate of probes sent to Mars.

   Synonym: Galactic Ghoul

   • 2004 September 27, Taylor Dinerman, “Is the Great Galactic Ghoul losing his appetite?”, in The Space Review:

     Considering the billions of dollars worth of spacecraft that the Great Galactic Ghoul has eaten in the past, the UK’s Beagle 2, at about $70 million, must have seemed like an insignificant little morsel—like eating a couple of grapes, when one really wants to have a T-bone steak.