| Acronym | Meaning |
| BMDO | Ballistic Missile Defense Office |
| RPM | Retro Propulsion Module |
| RCC | Reinforced Carbon-Carbon |
| PEM | Particle Environment Monitor |
| HIRIS | High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer |
| ALEXIS | Array Of Low Energy X-ray Imaging Sensors |
| SSPS | Sky Survey Prototype System |
| EJASA | Electronic Journal Of The Astronomical Society Of The Atlantic |
| AEPI | Atmospheric Emissions Photometric Imaging |
| MPC | Minor Planets Circular |