| Acronym | Meaning |
| NSO | National Solar Observatory |
| RGB | Red Giant Branch |
| A&A | Astronomy And Astrophysics |
| DOD | Department Of Defense |
| NRAO | National Radio Astronomy Observatory |
| ELDO | European Launcher Development Organisation |
| GUGK | Glavnoye Upravileniye Geodesii I Kartografii |
| HIRDLS | High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder |
| RCI | Rodent Cage Interface |
| SIR | Shuttle Imaging Radar |