Learn English – What’s the opposite of nominal in the astronaut sense
jargonsingle-word-requests
If some sub-system is not nominal, what do they say?
Best Answer
If something is nominal, then it is acting as expected, i.e., all measurements of the system are coming back in the normal/acceptable range. It's shorthand for all measurements of system X are operating as expected.
If something is not nominal, it does no good to say "not nominal", rather, one would say what is actually wrong. For instance, if fuel tank pressure was below its safe/acceptable value, they would report that the fuel tank pressure is low. That's why there appear to be a million dials or so in cockpits in addition to a computer interface. When something is off, exactly what is off is reported, and that is what the pilot / astronaut will relay.
There is also requite. But this is much less common, and slightly archaic, and mainly only seen as a negative past participle in unrequited love. I wouldn't recommend it for general use.
Best Answer
If something is nominal, then it is acting as expected, i.e., all measurements of the system are coming back in the normal/acceptable range. It's shorthand for all measurements of system X are operating as expected.
If something is not nominal, it does no good to say "not nominal", rather, one would say what is actually wrong. For instance, if fuel tank pressure was below its safe/acceptable value, they would report that the fuel tank pressure is low. That's why there appear to be a million dials or so in cockpits in addition to a computer interface. When something is off, exactly what is off is reported, and that is what the pilot / astronaut will relay.