| Acronym | Meaning |
| HGA | High Gain Antenna |
| MTFF | Columbus Man-Tended Free-Flyer |
| ELV | Expendable Launch Vehicle |
| STIS | Space Telescope Imaging Spectrometer |
| DOD | Department Of Defense |
| SAO | Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory |
| RTG | Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator |
| IDA | International Dark-sky Association |
| NRSC | National Remote Sensing Centre |
| JERS | Japanese Earth Resources Satellite |