What does t-minus whatever mean?

Question

I understand military time, but what I don't understand is what it means when someone says "I will be there in T-minus two hours" or something like that... Can you please explain this to me? Thanks!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

The only place I have ever heard t minus being used is in the launch of a rocket. As the previous answer says it refers to the time before launch. After launch they switch to T plus.

It really refers to points on their schedule. You might here them say its T minus 12 minutes and counting.... meaning they are proceeding toward launch. You might also hear them say its T minus 10 minutes and holding. That means they have completed all the tasks that need to be completed at ten minutes before launch. But for some reason, they have stopped doing things on the schedule. Maybe a sensor that is checked at T-minus 10 minutes says the fuel tank is empty and it should be full... so they are holding the clock until they figure out whats wrong or fix whats wrong.... so sometimes it can be T minus 10 minutes for hours or days.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks for being so thorough!

Answer 2

T means the time for something to "take off" or "commence" or whatever. Then T minus 2 hours means 2 hours before that time.

Answer 3

t-minus means time minus is a terminology use by the military and nasa to specify the amount of time left for a special event like a lift off or an Attack you can actually use t-ball for the drop of the ball in time square

Answer 4

Yes T does mean time.And then you take off whatever time like the first person said.

Source(s):

I am in the millitary.

Answer 5

like thats how much time you have left until a certain count down. Like if plane was to drop a bomb at 4:00 and it was 1:00 they would say t-minus 3 hours, and so on.

Answer 6

T-minus is an abrieviation for time minused then you say in how many hours you'll be there.

Source(s):

google