| Acronym | Meaning |
| PVO | Pioneer Venus Orbiter / Protivo-Vosdushniya Oborona |
| MODIS | Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer |
| CSTC | Consolidated Satellite Test Center |
| HB | Horizontal Branch |
| NASA | National Aeronautics And Space Administration |
| VLT | Very Large Telescope |
| AIRS | Atmospheric Infrared Sounder |
| PLB | Payload Bay |
| CATS | Cheap Access To Space |
| JCMT | James Clerk Maxwell Telescope |