| Acronym | Meaning |
| ATOVS | Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder |
| EOS | Earth Observing System |
| VAS | VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (launch |
| AURA | Association Of Universities For Research In Astronomy |
| MSG | Meteosat Second Generation |
| NWS | National Weather Service (NOAA) |
| NASDA | National Space Development Agency (Japan) |
| COMSAT | COMmunications SATellite |
| GEOSAT | GEOdetic SATellite |
| CH4 | Methane |