| Acronym | Meaning |
| SAM | Shuttle Activation Monitor |
| NRAO | National Radio Astronomy Observatory |
| ATCS | Active Thermal Control System |
| DC | Delta Clipper |
| ACTS | Advanced Communications Technology Satellite |
| CADH | Communications And Data Handling |
| ELDO | European Launcher Development Organisation |
| PEM | Payload Electronics Module |
| DPM | Drop Physics Module |
| AAO | Anglo-Australian Observatory |