| Acronym | Meaning |
| JERS | Japanese Earth Resources Satellite |
| OARE | Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment |
| APU | Auxiliary Power Unit |
| PPF | Columbus Polar Platform |
| JCMT | James Clerk Maxwell Telescope |
| DSSC | Deep Space Station Complex |
| INTELSAT | International Telecommunications Satellite |
| STIKSCAT | Stick Scatterometer |
| MBB | Messerschmitt-Belkow-Blohm |
| NSA | National Security Agency |