| Acronym | Meaning |
| APL | Applied Physics Laboratory (at Johns Hopkins) |
| CIS | Commonwealth Of Independent States |
| GEO | Geosynchronous Earth Orbit |
| RASC | Royal Astronomical Society Of Canada |
| ACRV | Astronaut Crew Rescue Vehicle |
| PEM | Payload Electronics Module |
| HIRDLS | High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder |
| SETI | Search For ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence |
| EROS | Earth Resources Observations System |
| ISPM | International Solar Polar Mission |