| Acronym | Meaning |
| PAM-D | Payload Assist Module |
| AURA | Association Of Universities For Research In Astronomy |
| SOHO | SOlar Heliospheric Observatory |
| NSI | NASA Science Internet / NASA Standard Initiator / National Environmental Satellite Data And Information Service |
| ARC | Astrophysical Research Consortium |
| GRO | Gamma Ray Observatory |
| RGB | Red Giant Branch |
| U3P | Union Pour La Promotion De La Propulsion Photonique |
| GSFC | Goddard Space Flight Center |
| PMT | PhotoMultiplier Tube |