| Acronym | Meaning |
| SAIL | Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory |
| NSA | National Security Agency |
| VAS | VISSR Atmospheric Sounder |
| TSS | Targeted Search System / Tethered Satellite System |
| PDE | Particle Dispersion Experiment |
| FFCC | Free-Flyer Control Centre |
| HLV | Heavy Lift Vehicle |
| OGO | Orbiting Geosurvey Observatories |
| HRSC | High Resolution Stereo Camera |
| S | Spiral (for Galaxies) |