| Acronym | Meaning |
| CARA | Center For Astrophysical Research In Antarctica |
| DOMSAT | Domestic Satellite |
| ER | Eastern Range |
| SPARTAN | Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool For Astronomy |
| SOFIA | Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy |
| LASCO | Large Angle Spectrometric Coronograph |
| BEM | Bug-Eyed Monster |
| CDM | Cold Dark Matter |
| RTG | Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator |
| IGBP | International Geosphere/Biosphere Programme |