Hm. I have never heard that meaning of the word previously, and the link I previ...

arrrg · on Oct 9, 2012

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.

waterlesscloud · on Oct 9, 2012

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 · on Oct 9, 2012

Try the Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure drinking game. There's only a few rules, like "Excellent" and air-guitar.

CUViper · on Oct 9, 2012

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! ;)

Sharlin · on Oct 8, 2012

"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.