N-NP It's not brain ballistics

[Heikki Raudaskoski]

Reading the following excerpt from today's (Feb 23, 2004) NY Times ("For
Edwards, It's a Race Against Kerry and Time" by Rick Lyman)

[---]
Each time, Mr. Edwards said, he has conveyed the same message to Dr. Dean:
"I want your help. I want you to support me. It's not rocket science."
[---]

made me wonder: when did the phrase "It's not rocket science" surface?
Was it before or after "It's not brain surgery"? Their offspring "It's
not rocket surgery" is obviously quite a bit more recent?

Anyway, "It's not rocket science" must've come into use in its current
meaning only after the Zonal summer '45, mustn't it?


Heikki