'Terrestrial' facility? EH?

[fennster]

On approach to a land base, the station announcer stated 'Welcome to this terrestrial facility.'

Surely that can't be right, terra being Latin for Earth and all that. Or can it have a broader meaning? If so why have extra-terrestrial?

 

[R3DB3RD]

As an adjective it's a term for landing on solid ground. I.e. Terra firma.

Sailors and submariners might use it when docking, Reaching dry land.

Just as in Earth (planet) or earth (ground).

 

[Sapyx]

According to Google:

terrestrial

(təˈrɛstrɪəl/)



1. on or relating to the Earth.
2. of or on dry land.

It is this second meaning that they are using, transferring the "nautical" concept to space. So it's "terrestrial" as opposed to "orbital". In the ED universe, "Terra" is never used as a name for Earth, so there should be no confusion over the term. I would imagine that, assuming English is still being used in 3302, then definition 1 has become obsolete everywhere except perhaps on Earth itself.