| Acronym | Meaning |
| NASA | National Aeronautics And Space Administration |
| FOLD | Federally-Owned LANDSAT Data |
| SMEX | Small EXplorers |
| THIR | Temperature/Humidity Infrared Radiometer |
| FFCC | Free-Flyer Control Centre |
| VMS | Vertical Motion Simulator |
| BD | Bonner Durchmusterung (catalog) |
| NRSC | National Remote Sensing Centre |
| CASCA | Canadian Astronomical Society |
| IGY | International Geophysical Year |