| Acronym | Meaning |
| ERS | Environmental Research Satellite |
| PPF | Columbus Polar Platform |
| HEAO | High Energy Astronomical Observatory |
| TES | Thermal Emission Spectrometer |
| SLAR | Side-Looking Airborne Radar |
| NIST | National Institute For Standards And Technology |
| OTV | Orbital Transfer Vehicle |
| HAO | High Altitude Observatory |
| ISM | InterStellar Medium |
| LANL | Los Alamos National Laboratory |