| Acronym | Meaning |
| VLT | Very Large Telescope |
| SL-J | SpaceLab Japan |
| LEST | Large Earth-based Solar Telescope |
| WIMP | Weakly Interacting Massive Particle |
| NOAO | National Optical Astronomy Observatories |
| CGF | Crystal Growth Furnace |
| AFGWC | Air Force Global Weather Center |
| USAF | United States Air Force |
| SSCE | Solid Surface Combustion Experiment |
| DARPA | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency |