faq acro astro

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Archive-name: space/acronymsEdition: 8

Acronym List for sci.astro, sci.space, and sci.space.shuttle:Edition 8, 1992 Dec 7Last posted: 1992 Aug 27

This list is offered as a reference for translating commonly appearingacronyms in the space-related newsgroups. If I forgot or botched yourfavorite acronym, please let me know! Also, if there's an acronym *not*on this list that confuses you, drop me a line, and if I can figureit out, I'll add it to the list.

Note that this is intended to be a reference for *frequently seen*acronyms, and is most emphatically *not* encyclopedic. If I incorporatedevery acronym I ever saw, I'd soon run out of disk space! :-)

The list will be posted at regular intervals, every 30 days. Allcomments regarding it are welcome; I'm reachable as [email protected].

Note that this just tells what the acronyms stand for -- you're on yourown for figuring out what they *mean*! Note also that the total number ofacronyms in use far exceeds what I can list; special-purpose acronyms thatare essentially always explained as they're introduced are omitted.

Further, some acronyms stand for more than one thing; as of Edition 3 ofthe list, these acronyms appear on multiple lines, unless they're simplydifferent ways of referring to the same thing.

Thanks to everybody who's sent suggestions since the first version ofthe list, and especially to Garrett A. Wollman ([email protected]),who is maintaining an independent list, somewhat more verbose incharacter than mine, and to Daniel Fischer ([email protected]),who is maintaining a truly HUGE list (535 at last count) of acronyms andterms, mostly in German (which I read, fortunately).

Special thanks this time to Ken Hollis at NASA, who sent me a copy of NASAReference Publication 1059 Revised: _Space Transportation System and

Associated Payloads: Glossary, Acronyms, and Abbreviations_, a trulymammoth tome -- almost 300 pages of TLAs.

Special Bonus! At the end of this posting, you will find a perl programwritten by none other than Larry Wall, whose purpose is to scramble theacronym list in an entertaining fashion. Thanks, Larry!

A&A: Astronomy and AstrophysicsAAO: Anglo-Australian ObservatoryAAS: American Astronomical SocietyAAS: American Astronautical SocietyAAVSO: American Association of Variable Star ObserversACE: Advanced Composition Explorer

ACRV: Assured Crew Return Vehicle (or) Astronaut Crew Rescue VehicleADFRF: Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility (was DFRF) (NASA)AGN: Active Galactic NucleusAGU: American Geophysical UnionAIAA: American Institute of Aeronautics and AstronauticsAIPS: Astronomical Image Processing SystemAJ: Astronomical JournalALEXIS: Array of Low Energy X-ray Imaging SensorsALPO: Association of Lunar and Planetary ObserversALS: Advanced Launch System



ANSI: American National Standards InstituteAOA: Abort Once Around (Shuttle abort plan)AOCS: Attitude and Orbit Control SystemAp.J: Astrophysical JournalAPM: Attached Pressurized Module (a.k.a. Columbus)APU: Auxiliary Power UnitARC: Ames Research Center (NASA)ARTEMIS: Advanced Relay TEchnology MISsionASA: Astronomical Society of the AtlanticASI: Agenzia Spaziale ItalianoASRM: Advanced Solid Rocket MotorATDRS: Advanced Tracking and Data Relay SatelliteATLAS: Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and ScienceATM: Amateur Telescope MakerATO: Abort To Orbit (Shuttle abort plan)AU: Astronomical UnitAURA: Association of Universities for Research in AstronomyAW&ST: Aviation Week and Space Technology (a.k.a. AvLeak)AXAF: Advanced X-ray Astrophysics FacilityBATSE: Burst And Transient Source Experiment (on CGRO)BBXRT: Broad-Band X-Ray Telescope (ASTRO package)BEM: Bug-Eyed MonsterBH: Black HoleBIMA: Berkeley Illinois Maryland Array

BNSC: British National Space CentreBTW: By The WayC&T: Communications & TrackingCCAFS: Cape Canaveral Air Force StationCCD: Charge-Coupled DeviceCCDS: Centers for the Commercial Development of SpaceCD-ROM: Compact Disk Read-Only MemoryCFA: Center For AstrophysicsCFC: ChloroFluoroCarbonCFF: Columbus Free FlyerCFHT: Canada-France-Hawaii TelescopeCGRO: (Arthur Holley) Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (was GRO)CHARA: Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy

CIRRIS: Cryogenic InfraRed Radiance Instrument for ShuttleCIT: Circumstellar Imaging TelescopeCM: Command Module (Apollo spacecraft)CMCC: Central Mission Control Centre (ESA)CNES: Centre National d'Etude SpatialesCNO: Carbon-Nitrogen-OxygenCNSR: Comet Nucleus Sample ReturnCOBE: COsmic Background ExplorerCOMPTEL: COMPton TELescope (on CGRO)COSTAR: Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial ReplacementCRAF: Comet Rendezvous / Asteroid FlybyCRRES: Combined Release / Radiation Effects SatelliteCSM: Command and Service Module (Apollo spacecraft)

CSTC: Consolidated Satellite Test Center (USAF)CTIO: Cerro Tololo Interamerican ObservatoryDCX: Delta Clipper eXperimentalDDCU: DC-to-DC Converter UnitDFRF: Dryden Flight Research Facility (now ADFRF)DMSP: Defense Meteorological Satellite ProgramDOD: Department Of Defense (sometimes DoD)DOE: Department Of EnergyDOT: Department Of TransportationDSCS: Defense Satellite Communications System



DSN: Deep Space NetworkDSP: Defense Support Program (USAF/NRO)EAFB: Edwards Air Force BaseECS: Environmental Control SystemEDO: Extended Duration OrbiterEGRET: Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (on CGRO)EJASA: Electronic Journal of the Astronomical Society of the AtlanticELV: Expendable Launch VehicleEMU: Extravehicular Mobility UnitEOS: Earth Observing SystemERS: Earth Resources Satellite (as in ERS-1)ESA: European Space AgencyESO: European Southern ObservatoryET: (Shuttle) External TankETLA: Extended Three Letter AcronymETR: Eastern Test RangeEUV: Extreme UltraVioletEUVE: Extreme UltraViolet ExplorerEVA: ExtraVehicular ActivityFAQ: Frequently Asked QuestionsFAST: Fast Auroral SnapshoT explorerFFT: Fast Fourier TransformFGS: Fine Guidance Sensors (on HST)FHST: Fixed Head Star Trackers (on HST)

FIR: Far InfraRedFITS: Flexible Image Transport SystemFOC: Faint Object Camera (on HST)FOS: Faint Object Spectrograph (on HST)FRR: Flight-Readiness ReviewFTP: File Transfer ProtocolFTS: Flight Telerobotic ServicerFUSE: Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic ExplorerFWHM: Full Width at Half MaximumFYI: For Your InformationGAS: Get-Away SpecialGBT: Green Bank TelescopeGCVS: General Catalog of Variable Stars

GEM: Giotto Extended MissionGEO: Geosynchronous Earth OrbitGDS: Great Dark SpotGHRS: Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (on HST)GIF: Graphics Interchange FormatGLOMR: Global Low-Orbiting Message RelayGMC: Giant Molecular CloudGMRT: Giant Meter-wave Radio TelescopeGMT: Greenwich Mean Time (also called UT)GOES: Geostationary Orbiting Environmental SatelliteGOX: Gaseous OXygenGPC: General Purpose ComputerGPS: Global Positioning System

GRO: Gamma Ray Observatory (now CGRO)GRS: Gamma Ray Spectrometer (on Mars Observer)GRS: Great Red SpotGSC: Guide Star Catalog (for HST)GSFC: Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA)GTO: Geostationary Transfer OrbitHAO: High Altitude ObservatoryHD: Henry Draper catalog entryHEAO: High Energy Astronomical ObservatoryHeRA: Hermes Robotic Arm



HF: High FrequencyHGA: High Gain AntennaHLC: Heavy Lift CapabilityHLV: Heavy Lift VehicleHMC: Halley Multicolor Camera (on Giotto)HR: Hertzsprung-Russell (diagram)HRI: High Resolution Imager (on ROSAT)HSP: High Speed Photometer (on HST)HST: Hubble Space TelescopeHUT: Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (ASTRO package)HV: High VoltageIAPPP: International Amateur/Professional Photoelectric PhotometryIAU: International Astronomical UnionIAUC: IAU CircularICE: International Cometary ExplorerIDA: International Dark-sky AssociationIDL: Interactive Data LanguageIGM: InterGalactic MediumIGY: International Geophysical YearIMHO: In My Humble OpinionIOTA: Infrared-Optical Telescope ArrayIOTA: International Occultation Timing AssociationIPS: Inertial Pointing SystemIR: InfraRed

IRAF: Image Reduction and Analysis FacilityIRAS: InfraRed Astronomical SatelliteISAS: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (Japan)ISM: InterStellar MediumISO: Infrared Space ObservatoryISO: International Standards OrganizationISPM: International Solar Polar Mission (now Ulysses)ISY: International Space YearIUE: International Ultraviolet ExplorerIUS: Inertial Upper StageJEM: Japanese Experiment Module (for SSF)JGR: Journal of Geophysical ResearchJILA: Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics

JPL: Jet Propulsion LaboratoryJSC: Johnson Space Center (NASA)KAO: Kuiper Airborne ObservatoryKPNO: Kitt Peak National ObservatoryKSC: Kennedy Space Center (NASA)KTB: Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary (from German)LANL: Los Alamos National LaboratoryLaRC: Langley Research Center (NASA)LDEF: Long Duration Exposure FacilityLEM: Lunar Excursion Module (a.k.a. LM) (Apollo spacecraft)LEO: Low Earth OrbitLeRC: Lewis Research Center (NASA)LEST: Large Earth-based Solar Telescope

LFSA: List of Frequently Seen Acronyms (!)LGA: Low Gain AntennaLGM: Little Green MenLH: Liquid Hydrogen (also LH2 or LHX)LLNL: Lawrence-Livermore National LaboratoryLM: Lunar Module (a.k.a. LEM) (Apollo spacecraft)LMC: Large Magellanic CloudLN2: Liquid N2 (Nitrogen)LOX: Liquid OXygenLRB: Liquid Rocket Booster



LSR: Local Standard of RestLTP: Lunar Transient PhenomenonMB: Manned BaseMCC: Mission Control CenterMECO: Main Engine CutOffMMH: MonoMethyl HydrazineMMT: Multiple Mirror TelescopeMMU: Manned Maneuvering UnitMNRAS: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyMOC: Mars Observer Camera (on Mars Observer)MOL: Manned Orbiting LaboratoryMOLA: Mars Observer Laser Altimeter (on Mars Observer)MOMV: Manned Orbital Maneuvering VehicleMOTV: Manned Orbital Transfer VehicleMPC: Minor Planets CircularMRSR: Mars Rover and Sample ReturnMRSRM: Mars Rover and Sample Return MissionMSFC: (George C.) Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA)MTC: Man Tended CapabilityNACA: National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (became NASA)NASA: National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNASDA: NAtional Space Development Agency (Japan)NASM: National Air and Space MuseumNASP: National AeroSpace Plane

NBS: National Bureau of Standards (now NIST)NDV: NASP Derived VehicleNERVA: Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle ApplicationNGC: New General CatalogNICMOS: Near Infrared Camera / Multi Object Spectrometer (HST upgrade)NIMS: Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (on Galileo)NIR: Near InfraRedNIST: National Institute for Standards and Technology (was NBS)NLDP: National Launch Development ProgramNOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNOAO: National Optical Astronomy ObservatoriesNRAO: National Radio Astronomy ObservatoryNRO: National Reconnaissance Office

NS: Neutron StarNSA: National Security AgencyNSF: National Science FoundationNSO: National Solar ObservatoryNSSDC: National Space Science Data CenterNTR: Nuclear Thermal Rocket(ry)NTT: New Technology TelescopeOAO: Orbiting Astronomical ObservatoryOCST: Office of Commercial Space TransportationOMB: Office of Management and BudgetOMS: Orbital Maneuvering SystemOPF: Orbiter Processing FacilityORFEUS: Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer

OSC: Orbital Sciences CorporationOSCAR: Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur RadioOSSA: Office of Space Science and ApplicationsOSSE: Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (on CGRO)OTA: Optical Telescope Assembly (on HST)OTHB: Over The Horizon BackscatterOTV: Orbital Transfer VehicleOV: Orbital VehiclePAM: Payload Assist ModulePAM-D: Payload Assist Module, Delta-class



PI: Principal InvestigatorPLSS: Portable Life Support SystemPM: Pressurized ModulePMC: Permanently Manned CapabilityPMIRR: Pressure Modulated InfraRed Radiometer (on Mars Observer)PMT: PhotoMultiplier TubePSF: Point Spread FunctionPSR: PulSaRPV: PhotovoltaicPVO: Pioneer Venus OrbiterQSO: Quasi-Stellar ObjectRCI: Rodent Cage Interface (for SLS mission)RCS: Reaction Control SystemREM: Rat Enclosure Module (for SLS mission)RF: Radio FrequencyRFI: Radio Frequency InterferenceRIACS: Research Institute for Advanced Computer ScienceRMS: Remote Manipulator SystemRNGC: Revised New General CatalogROSAT: ROentgen SATelliteROUS: Rodents Of Unusual Size (I don't believe they exist)RSN: Real Soon NowRTG: Radioisotope Thermoelectric GeneratorRTLS: Return To Launch Site (Shuttle abort plan)

SAA: South Atlantic AnomalySAGA: Solar Array Gain Augmentation (for HST)SAMPEX: Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle EXplorerSAO: Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatorySAR: Search And RescueSAR: Synthetic Aperture RadarSARA: Satellite pour Astronomie Radio AmateurSAREX: Search and Rescue ExerciseSAREX: Shuttle Amateur Radio ExperimentSAS: Space Activity SuitSAS: Space Adaptation SyndromeSAT: Synthetic Aperture TelescopeS/C: SpaceCraft

SCA: Shuttle Carrier AircraftSCT: Schmidt-Cassegrain TelescopeSDI: Strategic Defense InitiativeSDIO: Strategic Defense Initiative OrganizationSEI: Space Exploration InitiativeSEST: Swedish ESO Submillimeter TelescopeSETI: Search for ExtraTerrestrial IntelligenceSID: Sudden Ionospheric DisturbanceSIR: Shuttle Imaging RadarSIRTF: Space (formerly Shuttle) InfraRed Telescope FacilitySL: SpaceLabSLAR: Side-Looking Airborne RadarSLC: Space Launch Complex

SLS: Space(lab) Life SciencesSMC: Small Magellanic CloudSME: Solar Mesosphere ExplorerSMEX: SMall EXplorersSMM: Solar Maximum MissionSN: SuperNova (e.g., SN1987A)SNR: Signal to Noise RatioSNR: SuperNova RemnantSNU: Solar Neutrino UnitsSOFIA: Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy



SOHO: SOlar Heliospheric ObservatorySPAN: Space Physics and Analysis NetworkSPDM: Special Purpose Dextrous ManipulatorSPOT: Systeme Probatoire pour l'Observation de la TerreSPS: Solar Power SatelliteSRB: Solid Rocket BoosterSRM: Solid Rocket MotorSSF: Space Station Fred (er, Freedom)SSI: Solid-State Imager (on Galileo)SSI: Space Studies InstitutSSME: Space Shuttle Main EngineSSPF: Space Station Processing FacilitySSRMS: Space Station Remote Manipulator SystemSST: Spectroscopic Survey TelescopeSST: SuperSonic TransportSSTO: Single Stage To OrbitSTIS: Space Telescope Imaging Spectrometer (to replace FOC and GHRS)STS: Shuttle Transport System (or) Space Transportation SystemSTScI: Space Telescope Science InstituteSWAS: Submillimeter Wave Astronomy SatelliteSWF: ShortWave FadingTAL: Transatlantic Abort Landing (Shuttle abort plan)TAU: Thousand Astronomical Unit (mission)TCS: Thermal Control System

TDRS: Tracking and Data Relay SatelliteTDRSS: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite SystemTES: Thermal Emission Spectrometer (on Mars Observer)TIROS: Television InfraRed Observation SatelliteTLA: Three Letter AcronymTOMS: Total Ozone Mapping SpectrometerTPS: Thermal Protection SystemTSS: Tethered Satellite SystemUARS: Upper Atmosphere Research SatelliteUBM: Unpressurized Berthing MechanismUDMH: Unsymmetrical DiMethyl HydrazineUFO: Unidentified Flying ObjectUGC: Uppsala General Catalog

UHF: Ultra High FrequencyUIT: Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (Astro package)UKST: United Kingdom Schmidt TelescopeUSAF: United States Air ForceUSMP: United States Microgravity PayloadUT: Universal Time (a.k.a. GMT, UTC, or Zulu Time)UTC: Coordinated Universal Time (a.k.a. UT)UV: UltraVioletUVS: UltraViolet SpectrometerVAB: Vehicle Assembly Building (formerly Vertical Assembly Building)VAFB: Vandenberg Air Force BaseVEEGA: Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist (Galileo flight path)VHF: Very High Frequency

VLA: Very Large ArrayVLBA: Very Long Baseline ArrayVLBI: Very Long Baseline InterferometryVLF: Very Low FrequencyVLT: Very Large TelescopeVMS: Vertical Motion SimulatorVOIR: Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar (superseded by VRM)VPF: Vertical Processing FacilityVRM: Venus Radar Mapper (now called Magellan)WD: White Dwarf



WFPC: Wide Field / Planetary Camera (on HST)WFPCII: Replacement for WFPCWIYN: Wisconsin / Indiana / Yale / NOAO telescopeWSMR: White Sands Missile RangeWTR: Western Test RangeWUPPE: Wisconsin Ultraviolet PhotoPolarimter Experiment (Astro package)XMM: X-ray Multi MirrorXUV: eXtreme UltraVioletYSO: Young Stellar Object

#!/usr/bin/perl# 'alt', An Acronym Scrambling Program, by Larry Wall

$THRESHOLD = 2;

srand;while (<>) { next unless /^([A-Z]\S+): */; $key = $1; $acro{$key} = $'; @words = split(/\W+/,$'); unshift(@words,$key); $off = 0;

foreach $word (@words) { next unless $word =~ /^[A-Z]/; *w = $&; vec($w{$word}, $off++ % 6, 1) = 1; }}

foreach $letter (A .. Z) { *w = $letter; @w = keys %w; if (@w < $THRESHOLD) { @d = `egrep '^$letter' /usr/dict/words`; chop @d;

push(@w, @d); }}

foreach $key (sort keys %acro) { $off = 0; $acro = $acro{$key}; $acro =~ s/((([A-Z])[A-Z]*)[a-z]*)/ &pick($3, $2, $1, ++$off) || $& /eg; print "$key: $acro";}

sub pick { local($letter, $prefix, $oldword, $off) = @_;

$i = 0; if (length($prefix) > 1 && index($key,$prefix) < 0) { if ($prefix eq $oldword) { $prefix = ''; } else { $prefix = $letter; } } if (length($prefix) > 1) {



local(*w) = substr($prefix,0,1); do { $word = $w[rand @w]; } until $word ne $oldword && $word =~ /^$prefix/i || ++$i > 30; $word =~ s/^$prefix/$prefix/i; $word; } elsif (length($prefix) == 1) { local(*w) = $prefix; do { $word = $w[rand @w]; } until $word ne $oldword && vec($w{$word}, $off, 1) || ++$i > 10; $word = "\u\L$word" if $word =~ tr/a-z/A-Z/; $word; } else { local(*w) = substr($oldword,0,1); do { $word = $w[rand @w]; } until $word ne $oldword && $word =~ tr/a-z/A-Z/ == 0 || ++$i > 30; $word; }}

-- Mark Bradford ([email protected]) <> To err is human, to moo bovine. "It's an ill wind that gathers no moss."

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