5 ms·

I'm not sure where you get that sense of the word. Nominal = according to plan.

by CUViper 14y ago

dtparr 14y ago
I see this confusion fairly often. Outside of the status of systems/missions etc., nominally often means something like 'in name only'. So to say it's proceeding 'nominally' to someone not familiar with its meaning in this domain sounds like "well, it's going according to 'plan', but ..."
jakkals 14y ago
Hm. I have never heard that meaning of the word previously, and the link I previously provided (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nominal http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nominal) also did not show that specific meaning (unless I am too blind to see it!). I do find it interesting though that you seem to think that it is commonly used in this sense, so I guess I am not moving in the right technical (aeronautics) circles :-) Thanks for the feedback.
- Sharlin 14y ago
  "Nominal" is the favorite word of aerospace engineers. Both in the sense that they like to use it a lot, and in the sense that they very much like to hear that things are going according to the plan.
- CUViper 14y ago
  Heh, no aerospace background for me, merely computer engineering. Maybe that's still close enough for the term to have crept around with that meaning. Now go forth and help spread this usage far and wide! ;)
- waterlesscloud 14y ago
  It's common enough for space launches that there was joking on twitter last night about playing a drinking game- take a drink every time someone said "nominal". But most people decided that might be a little too much alcohol even for a drinking game. :-)
  - stcredzero 14y ago
    Try the Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure drinking game. There's only a few rules, like "Excellent" and air-guitar.
- arrrg 14y ago
  Here’s the Oxford English Dictionary (funny how words work – I know of all five those meanings of nominal, but when I hear it I first think of the fifth, while you first seem to think of the first three): nominal |ˈnɒmɪn(ə)l| adjective 1 (of a role or status) existing in name only: Thailand retained nominal independence under Japanese military occupation. • relating to or consisting of names. 2 (of a price or charge) very small; far below the real value or cost: they charge a nominal fee for the service. 3 (of a quantity or dimension) stated or expressed but not necessarily corresponding exactly to the real value: EU legislation allowed variation around the nominal weight (that printed on each packet). • Economics expressed in terms of current prices or figures, without making allowance for changes over time: the nominal exchange rate. 4 Grammar relating to or functioning as a noun: a nominal group. 5 informal (chiefly in the context of space travel) functioning normally or acceptably.
bronson 14y ago
Unless reaching orbit with 8 engines was in the plan, I don't think your use of the term matches SpaceX's.
- CUViper 14y ago
  It may not be following the optimal path, but it is absolutely within the planned contingencies: "Falcon 9 is designed to handle an engine out situation and still complete its mission."

I'm not sure where you get that sense of the word. Nominal = according to plan.

by CUViper 14y ago

I'm not sure where you get that sense of the word. Nominal = according to plan.

I see this confusion fairly often. Outside of the status of systems/missions etc., nominally often means something like 'in name only'. So to say it's proceeding 'nominally' to someone not familiar with its meaning in this domain sounds like "well, it's going according to 'plan', but ..."

jakkals 14y ago

Hm. I have never heard that meaning of the word previously, and the link I previously provided (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nominal http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nominal) also did not show that specific meaning (unless I am too blind to see it!). I do find it interesting though that you seem to think that it is commonly used in this sense, so I guess I am not moving in the right technical (aeronautics) circles :-) Thanks for the feedback.

Sharlin 14y ago
"Nominal" is the favorite word of aerospace engineers. Both in the sense that they like to use it a lot, and in the sense that they very much like to hear that things are going according to the plan.
CUViper 14y ago
Heh, no aerospace background for me, merely computer engineering. Maybe that's still close enough for the term to have crept around with that meaning. Now go forth and help spread this usage far and wide! ;)
waterlesscloud 14y ago
It's common enough for space launches that there was joking on twitter last night about playing a drinking game- take a drink every time someone said "nominal". But most people decided that might be a little too much alcohol even for a drinking game. :-)
- stcredzero 14y ago
  Try the Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure drinking game. There's only a few rules, like "Excellent" and air-guitar.
arrrg 14y ago
Here’s the Oxford English Dictionary (funny how words work – I know of all five those meanings of nominal, but when I hear it I first think of the fifth, while you first seem to think of the first three): nominal |ˈnɒmɪn(ə)l| adjective 1 (of a role or status) existing in name only: Thailand retained nominal independence under Japanese military occupation. • relating to or consisting of names. 2 (of a price or charge) very small; far below the real value or cost: they charge a nominal fee for the service. 3 (of a quantity or dimension) stated or expressed but not necessarily corresponding exactly to the real value: EU legislation allowed variation around the nominal weight (that printed on each packet). • Economics expressed in terms of current prices or figures, without making allowance for changes over time: the nominal exchange rate. 4 Grammar relating to or functioning as a noun: a nominal group. 5 informal (chiefly in the context of space travel) functioning normally or acceptably.

bronson 14y ago

Unless reaching orbit with 8 engines was in the plan, I don't think your use of the term matches SpaceX's.

CUViper 14y ago
It may not be following the optimal path, but it is absolutely within the planned contingencies: "Falcon 9 is designed to handle an engine out situation and still complete its mission."