TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
CAPCOM [1 record]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2001-11-02
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Astronautics
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- capcom
1, record 1, English, capcom
correct, officially approved
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- capsule communicator 2, record 1, English, capsule%20communicator
correct
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
CapCom is the only person who is allowed to speak to the crew directly during a mission regarding system procedures (i.e. what to do if something fails) or there are changes to system procedures on board. As this role requires considerable technical knowledge a CapCom is always an elected astronaut. The flight director at TsUP will transmit information to the CapCom who will then be solely responsible for relaying it to the crew on board. 3, record 1, English, - capcom
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
"CAPCOM", or Capsule Communicator, [is] a holdover from the earlier days when spacecraft were known as capsules. All CAPCOMs are veterans of space flight, bringing their first-hand operational experience to the Mission Control team. CAPCOMs report directly to the Flight Director who is responsible for the overall shuttle mission, payload operations, and all decisions regarding safe, successful flight conduct. 4, record 1, English, - capcom
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Capcom: term officially approved by the International Space Station official approval Group (ISSOAG). 5, record 1, English, - capcom
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Astronautique
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- capcom
1, record 1, French, capcom
correct, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- fonction capcom 2, record 1, French, fonction%20capcom
feminine noun
- position capcom 3, record 1, French, position%20capcom
feminine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
La position «Capcom», utilisée encore aujourd'hui pour les vols de la navette, est née lors du programme Mercury. En effet, on se référait plus à une capsule qu'à un vaisseau spatial, d'où le préfixe Cap, et le suffixe Com, pour «Communicator». La fonction Capcom est exercée en général par un astronaute, familier avec les opérations et les procédures des vols spatiaux. Pour les missions Mercury, Gemini et Apollo, et encore de nos jours, c'est dans la plupart des cas un astronaute de l'équipage de [relève] ou de l'équipe de soutien qui exerce cette fonction. 3, record 1, French, - capcom
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
capcom: terme uniformisé par le Groupe de travail de la terminologie de la Station spatiale internationale (GTTSSI). 2, record 1, French, - capcom
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: