safing

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle of safe.

   Mission control is safing the satellite as the solar storm approaches.

   Safing the reactor became the operator's first priority during the alarm.

   Note

   The -ing form of a verb most readers know only as an adjective: safe can also mean "to make something safe," and it takes a direct object. You safe a satellite, a reactor or a system. Like other verbs ending in a silent e, it drops the e before -ing. As a gerund it can head a noun phrase (safing the reactor came first). Without an object it shades into the spacecraft term.

2. 2
   noununcountable

   The process by which a spacecraft enters safe mode, shutting down nonessential systems to protect itself until controllers respond.

   Like an animal curling up and going still to survive a threat until the danger passes.

   After the radiation spike, safing kicked in and shut down the science instruments.

   The rapid safing prevented further damage to the probe's electronics.

   Note

   Spaceflight's word for a machine putting itself out of harm's way. When a spacecraft detects an anomaly, it powers down nonessential subsystems, often turns toward the Sun for power, and waits for commands from the ground. The noun is uncountable: you say safing kicked in, not a safing. It names the process, while safe mode names the state the craft ends up in.

Showing meanings only. Show all 2