| Acronym | Meaning |
| AIAA | American Institute Of Aeronautics And Astronautics |
| C&T | Communications & Tracking |
| FAST | Fast Auroral SnapshoT Explorer |
| DOD | Department Of Defense |
| MIMR | Multifrequency Imaging Microwave Radiometer |
| OSC | Orbital Sciences Corporation |
| LEO | Low Earth Orbit |
| RKA | Rossiskoye Kosmicheskoye Agentsvo |
| OTFE | Oscillatory Thermocapillary Flow Experiment |
| SLAR | Side-Looking Airborne Radar |