// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
Off-Nominal
Describes a situation where a spacecraft or system is not operating as expected or has deviated from its normal parameters. This often indicates a problem or anomaly.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Off-Nominal refers to any deviation from the planned or expected operational state or performance of a spacecraft or system, often indicating an anomaly, malfunction, or an unexpected event requiring intervention or investigation.
BACKGROUND
The economy of the state of Florida is the fourth-largest in the United States, with a $1.726 trillion gross state product (GSP) as of 2024. If Florida were a sovereign nation (2024), it would rank as the world's 15th-largest economy by nominal GDP according to the International Monetary Fund, ahead of Spain and behind South Korea. Agriculture, tourism, industry, construction, international banking, biomedical and life sciences, healthcare research, simulation training, aerospace and defense, and commercial space travel contribute to the state's economy.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Anomaly
- Malfunction
- Fault
- Irregular
- Unexpected
- Contingency
USAGE NOTE
An off-nominal reading from the sensor triggered an alert.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Off-Nominal.
A market leader in on-orbit servicing and active debris removal. Astroscale develops technologies to rendezvous with, inspect, and de-orbit defunct satellites and other space debris, directly addressing off-nominal situations where spacecraft have failed or become hazards.
Operates a global network of phased-array radars to provide high-resolution tracking data for objects in low Earth orbit. Their services are critical for space situational awareness (SSA) and collision avoidance, helping satellite operators prevent and react to potential off-nominal collision events.
A subsidiary that provides in-orbit satellite servicing. Their Mission Extension Vehicles (MEVs) have successfully docked with commercial satellites to provide life-extending propulsion and attitude control, correcting for end-of-life conditions and keeping assets operational beyond their planned mission.
A federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) that provides technical guidance and analysis for national security space missions. They are frequently called upon to investigate launch failures and on-orbit anomalies, providing independent assessments to determine root causes and prevent future off-nominal events.
A software company focused on space traffic management and collision avoidance. Their platform automates the response to conjunction data messages, helping satellite operators efficiently and safely maneuver their spacecraft to avoid potential collisions, a critical type of off-nominal event.
Develops a space situational awareness and data analytics platform that fuses information from multiple sources. The platform helps operators monitor their assets, detect anomalies, and predict on-orbit events like collisions, enabling faster and more effective responses to off-nominal situations.
Building a network of in-orbit 'gas stations' for satellite refueling. This capability enhances mission resilience, allowing satellites to recover from off-nominal situations that consume unexpected amounts of propellant or extend missions that would otherwise be terminated.
A Swiss company developing technologies for active debris removal (ADR). Contracted by the European Space Agency (ESA), their mission is to capture and de-orbit a specific piece of space debris, directly tackling the consequences of past failed missions and off-nominal events.