Acronyms

Appendix B
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Units of Measure and some Physical Constants

A . . . . . . . . . . . . . ampere --- unit of electric current [named after Andr M. Ampre
(1775---1836), French physicist]. 1 A represents a flow of one coulomb
of electricity per second (or: 1A = 1C/s)
Ah . . . . . . . . . . . . ampere hour
. . . . . . . . . . . . . angstrom --- unit of length (used in particular for the short wavelength
spectrum); 1= 10 ---10 m [named after Anders Jonas ngstrm
(1814--- 1874), Swedish physicist and astronomer]
amu . . . . . . . . . . . atomic mass unit (1.6605402 10 ---27 kg)
are . . . . . . . . . . . . unit of area (1 are = 100 m2)
arcmin . . . . . . . . . arcminute [1 = (1/60) or 1 arcmin = 2.908882 x 10 ---4 radian]
arcsec . . . . . . . . . . arcsecond [1 = (1/60) or 1 arcsec = 4.848137 x 10 ---6 radian =
0.000278]
au . . . . . . . . . . . . . astronomical unit --- unit of length, namely the mean Earth/sun distance
[=1.495978706 1013 cm, which is the semimajor axis of the Earths orbit
around the sun (or about 150 million km)]
bar . . . . . . . . . . . . pressure, (1 bar = 105 Nm ---2)
Bq . . . . . . . . . . . . . Becquerel [named after Alexandre Edmond Becquerel, a French physicist (1820---1891)]. The Bq is a SI unit used to measure a radioactivity.
One Becquerel is that quantity of a radioactive material that will have 1
transformations in one second.
c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . velocity of light in vacuum (299,792,458 m/s)
cd . . . . . . . . . . . . . candela (unit of luminous intensity). The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 1012 Hz and that has a radiant intensity in that
direction of 1/683 watt per steradian.
cm . . . . . . . . . . . . centimeter (unit of length) 1 cm = 10 ---2 m
C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . coulomb --- unit of electrical charge; 1 C = 1 As [named after Charles--Augustin Coulomb (1736---1806), French physicist. The coulomb is the
quantity of electricity transported in 1 second by a current of 1 ampere.
C . . . . . . . . . . . . . degree Celsius [named after Anders Celsius (1701---1744), Swedish astronomer]
dB . . . . . . . . . . . . . decibel --- a unit for expressing the signal strength [named after Alexander Graham Bell (1847---1922), Scottish---born American inventor]
dm . . . . . . . . . . . . decimeter (length) 1 dm = 10 ---1 m
E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Etvs (1 E = 10 ---9 s ---2). The linear gradient of gravity is defined in
units of Etvs, named in honor of the Hungarian physicist Roland
Etvs (1848---1919). The Etvs unit is used in geophysics to measure
the rate of change, or gradient in the acceleration of gravity with horizontal distance.
Erlang . . . . . . . . . a dimensionless unit of average traffic density (occupancy) of a facility
(telecommunications system, data collection system, etc.) during a period of time, usually a busy hour. Example: 60 calls in 1 hour, each lasting for 5 minutes = 300 minutes / 60 min per hour = 5 Erlang. Network
designers use the Erlang to understand traffic patterns.
eV . . . . . . . . . . . . electron volt (1.60217733 10 ---19 J). A unit of energy, equal to the energy
an electron (or proton) would gain when accelerated by 1 volt.
F . . . . . . . . . . . . . . farad --- a unit of capacitance [named after Michael Faraday (1791
---1867), English physicist and chemist]. The farad is the capacitance of
a capacitor between the plates of which there appears a difference potential of 1 volt when it is charged by a quantity of electricity equal to 1
coulomb.
f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . focal length
3352
f/d . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GHz . . . . . . . . . . .
GWe . . . . . . . . . . .
gal . . . . . . . . . . . . .
gauss (G) . . . . . . .
Gy . . . . . . . . . . . .
H .............
Hz . . . . . . . . . . . .
h ..............
h (or hr) . . . . . . . .
h ..............
ha . . . . . . . . . . . . .
hPa . . . . . . . . . . . .
Isp . . . . . . . . . . . .
J ..............
Jy . . . . . . . . . . . . .
K..............
k ..............
kbit/s . . . . . . . . . .
keV . . . . . . . . . . .
kg . . . . . . . . . . . . .
kg/m3 . . . . . . . . . .
kHz . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

focal---length---to---diameter ratio
Gigahertz (109 Hz)
Gigawatt (109 W) electrical energy
unit of acceleration (used in particular in gravity measurements): 1 gal
= 10 ---2 m s ---2 = 1 cm s ---2; 1 mgal = 10 ---5 m s ---2 [named after Galilei
Galileo (1564---1642), Italian mathematician, astronomer and physicist]. The gal unit is used in making measurements of local variations in
the acceleration of gravity g. Variations in the acceleration of Earths
gravity (e.g. gravity anomalies) are typically measured in milligal
(mgal). One gal is approximately 0.0010197 g, or 1 gal is about 10 ---3 g.
Hence, 1 mgal is about 10 ---6 g.
unit of magnetic induction [named after Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777--1855), German mathematician]
Gray [named after Louis Harold Gray (1905---1965) British physicist,
president of BIR (British Institute of Radiology) and elected F.R.S.
(Fellow of the Royal Society) in 1961]. The gray is a SI unit used to measure a quantity called absorbed dose. This relates to the amount of energy actually absorbed in some material, and is used for any type of radiation and any material. One gray is equal to one joule of energy deposited in one kg of a material (or: 1 gray = 1 J/kg). Note: In the SI system,
the rad is replaced by the gray; 1 krad =10 gray.
henry --- unit of magnetic inductance; 1 H = 1Wb/A or 1Vs/A [named
after Joseph Henry, a nineteenth---century US physicist]
hertz --- a measure of frequency; 1Hz = 1/s [named after Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (1857---1894), German physicist]. In 1887, Hertz proved that
energy is transmitted through a vacuum by electromagnetic waves.
hecto (102)
hour
Plancks constant = 6.6260755 x 10 ---34 Js (joule second)
hectare (1 ha = 104 m2)
hectopascal (international standard of pressure, 1 hPa = 100 Pa)
specific impulse with a unit Ns/kg. The numerical value of the specific
impulse also corresponds to the effective exhaust velocity (m/s) of the
gas exiting the thruster in a vacuum. See also Glossary.
joule --- unit of work or energy; 1 J = 1 Nm = 1 Ws [named after James
Prescott Joule (1818---1889), British physicist]
Jansky, the unit of radio---wave emission strength or flux density
(brightness of a radio source), in honor of Karl G. Jansky (1905---1950)
an American engineer whose discovery of radio waves (1931) from an
extraterrestrial source inaugurated the development of radio astronomy. Jansky published his findings in 1932 while working at Bell Telephone Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ, USA.
The Jy is a unit of radiative flux density (or radio---wave emission
strength) which is commonly used in radio and infrared astronomy. 1 Jy
= 10 ---26 W/(m2 Hz). The units of Jy (Hz) ---1/2 then refer to the noise
power.
degree Kelvin [named after Sir William Thomson (Lord Kelvin, 1824--1907), Scottish engineer, physicist and mathematician]. The degree
Kelvin is the unit of temperature determined by the Carnot cycle with
the triple---point temperature of water defined as 273.15 K (corresponds exactly to 0 C).
kilo (103)
kilobit per second (103 bit/s)
kiloelectron volt (103 eV)
kilogram (103 g)
density
kilohertz (103 Hz)

km . . . . . . . . . . . .
krad . . . . . . . . . . .
kW . . . . . . . . . . . .
kWe . . . . . . . . . . .
L ..............
lm . . . . . . . . . . . . .
lx . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
M .............
Mbit/s . . . . . . . . . .
MeV . . . . . . . . . . .
MHz . . . . . . . . . . .
m .............
m .............
m2 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
m3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
marcsec . . . . . . . .
mb (mbar) . . . . . .
min . . . . . . . . . . . .
mCrab . . . . . . . . .
mg . . . . . . . . . . . .
mgal . . . . . . . . . . .
mJ . . . . . . . . . . . .
ml . . . . . . . . . . . . .
mm . . . . . . . . . . . .
mN . . . . . . . . . . . .
mrad . . . . . . . . . . .
ms . . . . . . . . . . . . .
m/s . . . . . . . . . . . .
m ..............
marcsec . . . . . . . . .
mgal . . . . . . . . . . .
mm . . . . . . . . . . . .
mrad . . . . . . . . . . .
ms . . . . . . . . . . . . .
N .............
Nm . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nms . . . . . . . . . . .
n ..............
nm . . . . . . . . . . . .
nm . . . . . . . . . . . .
nT . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W .............
Pa . . . . . . . . . . . . .
p ..............
3353
kilometer (103 m)
kilorad (see rad below)
kilowatt (103 watt)
kilowatt electric (used to distinguish electrical power from thermal
power)
liter (volume) 1l = 1 dm3 [the symbol for liter is capitalized (when alone
by itself) to avoid confusion with the number 1]
lumen (cd sr) luminous flux. The lumen is the luminous flux emitted in a
solid angle of 1 steradian by a uniform point source having an intensity
of 1 candela.
lux (lm/m2) illumination
Mega (106)
Megabit per second (106 bit per second)
Megaelectron volt (106 eV)
Megahertz (106 hertz)
meter
milli (10 ---3)
area (square meter)
volume (cubic meter)
milliarcsecond = 2.78 x 10 ---7
millibar
minute
1 mCrab is a unit to describe the X---ray intensity defined as 1/1000 of
the intensity of the Crab nebula. X---ray astronomers use this unit when
comparing observations from different X---ray detectors on different
instruments.
milligram (10 ---3 g)
milligal 10 ---6 g (where g is the gravity constant)
millijoule (10 ---3 J)
milliliter (10 ---3 l)
millimeter (unit of length) 1 mm = 10 ---3 m
millinewton
milliradian 5900)
millisecond
meter per second (velocity)
micro (10 ---6)
microarcsecond = 2.8 x 10 ---10
microgal 10 ---9 g (where g is the gravity constant of 9.81 m/s2)
micrometer (10 ---6 m)
microradian
microsecond (10 ---6 second)
newton --- unit of force; 1N = 1 kgm/s2 [named after Sir Isaac Newton
(1643---1727), English natural philosopher and mathematician]
newton meter (work or energy)
newton meter second (angular momentum)
nano (10 ---9)
nanometer (10 ---9 m)
nautical miles [1 nm = 1852 m (international)]
nanotesla (10 ---9 tesla) SI unit of magnetic flux density
ohm --- unit of electrical resistance; 1 W = 1 V/A [named after Georg
Simon Ohm (1789---1854), German physicist
pascal --- unit of pressure; 1 Pa = 1 N/m2 [named after Blaise Pascal
(1623---1662), French mathematician and physicist]. Normal atmospheric pressure = 101,320 Pa (1,013.2 millibar)
pico (10 ---12)
_____________________
5900) An example is given to better visualize the plane angle of a milliradian. The apparent sun disk angle as seen from
Earth is 32 26 (max, or about 30.7 mrad), and 31 31 (min) --- --- on average about 32 arcmin.
3354
pC . . . . . . . . . . . . picocoulomb (10 ---12 coulomb)

pT . . . . . . . . . . . . . picotesla (10 ---12 tesla)
parsec . . . . . . . . . . astronomical distance. It represents the distance at which the radius of
the Earths orbit subtends an angle of one second of arc; thus a star at a
distance of one parsec would have a parallax of one second, and the distance of an object in parsecs is the reciprocal of its parallax in seconds of
arc. One parsec equals 3.26 light---years, which is equivalent to 3.08374
x 1013 km
ppb . . . . . . . . . . . . parts per billion (10 ---9)
ppbv . . . . . . . . . . . parts per billion, by volume
ppm . . . . . . . . . . . parts per million (10 ---6)
ppmv . . . . . . . . . . parts per million, volume
pps . . . . . . . . . . . . pulses per second
ppt . . . . . . . . . . . . parts per trillion (10 ---12)
pptv . . . . . . . . . . . parts per trillion (10 ---12), by volume
psu . . . . . . . . . . . . practical salinity unit, [(1 psu=0.1%) and ranges from 32 to 37 psu]
RE . . . . . . . . . . . . Earth radius = 6378.140 km (mean equatorial radius)
Rsun . . . . . . . . . . . Radius of sun ~ 700,000 km
rad . . . . . . . . . . . . radian --- a unit of plane angular measurement equal to the angle at the
center of a circle subtended by an arc equal in length to the radius
rad/s . . . . . . . . . . . radian per second (angular velocity)
rad . . . . . . . . . . . . In the context of radiation shielding, the term rad (or Rad) is also
used for energy accumulated in matter (dosimetry for the energy absorbed per unit mass of material, usually by ionization processes). A rad
is the amount of particle radiation that deposits 10 ---2 J/kg of target material. Besides the rad is the Gray. 1 rad = 1/100 Gray. Note: A
Gray is the radiation absorbed dose unit of SI (Systeme Internationale). 1 Gray = 1 J/kg (=100 rad). Or 10 Gray = 1000 rad = 1krad. 5901)
See also Glossary.
Note: The SI system replaced the rad with the unit Gray (Gy).
However, the use of the terms rad, krad, Mrad remains in the industry
vocabulary.
rms . . . . . . . . . . . . root mean square
rpm . . . . . . . . . . . . revolutions per minute
rps . . . . . . . . . . . . revolutions per second
S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . siemens --- unit of electrical conductance; 1 S = 1 A/V [named after
Werner von Siemens (1816---1892), German electrical engineer]
s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . second. The international definition of the second (in the International
System of Units, or SI) is based on the cesium atom, cesium remains the
ruler for official timekeeping.
sr . . . . . . . . . . . . . steradian --- a unit of measure of solid angles expressed as the solid
angle subtended at the center of a sphere by the portion of the surface
whose area is equal to the square of the radius of the sphere
Sv . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sievert [named after the Swedish physicist Rolf Sievert (1898---1966)].
Radiation dose measurement. The sievert is a unit used to derive a
quantity called equivalent dose. This relates the absorbed dose in human tissue to the effective biological damage of the radiation. Not all
radiation has the same biological effect, even for the same amount of
absorbed dose. On Earth, humans receive an annual average dose of
about 2 mSv from background radiation. Astronauts, floating in LEO
outside ISS, are exposed to about 54 mSv per year.
T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tera (1012)
TB . . . . . . . . . . . . TeraByte (1012 Byte)
TECU . . . . . . . . . Total Electron Content Unit. 1 TECU = 1016 electrons/m2
_____________________
5901) Typical CMOS devices can tolerate 1---10 krad/year. Dose rates for a silicon target are usually stated in g/cm2 or
in thickness of aluminum shielding for a given orbit. For a sun---synchronous orbit, about 0.8 g/cm2 (or 4 mm silicon thickness) is needed for a 1---year lifetime, and about 3 g/cm2 (13 mm silicon) for a 10 year lifetime.
3355
tesla (T) . . . . . . . . SI unit of magnetic flux density. 1 T = 1 Wb/m2 which corresponds to

104 gauss [named after Nikola Tesla (1856---1943), Croatian---born
American inventor]
THz . . . . . . . . . . . Terahertz (1012 hertz)
V . . . . . . . . . . . . . volt --- unit of electrical potential [named after Alessandro Volta
(1745--- 1827), Italian physicist]
W . . . . . . . . . . . . . watt --- unit of power; 1 W = 1 J/s [named after James Watt
(1736---1819), a Scottish mechanical engineer and inventor]
Wb . . . . . . . . . . . . weber --- unit of magnetic flux [named after Ernst Weber (1901---), Austrian---born US engineer
Wh . . . . . . . . . . . . watt hour (work or energy)
Ws . . . . . . . . . . . . watt second (work or energy)
General conventions of unit representations:

The symbol m is used with various meanings depending on its position and occurrence in
a unit. In single---digit instances, the symbol m stands simply for meter. This is also the case
in double symbol instances, when m is in last position, like in Nm (newtonmeter), nm (nanometer), or mm (millimeter). When m is used in double---digit symbols in first place, like mm
(millimeter), ml (milliliter), ms (millisecond), mN (millinewton), etc., then the first small
m is always used in a diminutive sense referring to milli (10 ---3).
The term small k stands for kilo (103) as in km (kilometer), kg (kilogram), kW (kilowatt),
or kbit (kilobit). The capital letter K, on the other hand, has the meaning of Kelvin, referring to a degree temperature on the absolute temperature scale. Also, a capital letter in
front of a unit is used in the context of M (mega = 106) or G (giga = 109) like GPa (Giga
Pascal) or GHz (Giga Hz).
All units in context with physical values should generally be stated in the singular form and
not in plural form. For instance: the length of 155 cm (and not: 155 cms); the data rate of 9.6
kbit/s; the data storage capacity of 55 Gbit; the thrust of 5.5 N, (and not 5.5 Ns, the latter
term means in effect Newton seconds); etc.
The basic SI units come in all sizes. Since the SI system is built upon the base 10, the different sizes are base 10 multiples of the basic units as illustrated in Table 932. --- The designations M (Mega), G (Giga), T (Tera), or m (micro), n(nano), p (pico), etc., in combinations
with other units, follow the same logic as outlined above and in Table 932.
Quantity
Length
Mass
Time
Electric current
Thermodynamic temperature
Luminous intensity
Amount of substance
Table 931:
Unit name
meter
kilogram
second
ampere
kelvin
candela
mole
Symbols for the seven basic units in the SI system
Unit symbol
m
kg
s
A
K
cd
mol
3356
Prefix
Exa
Peta
Tera
Giga
Mega
kilo
hecto
deca
Symbol
E
P
T
G
M
k
h
da
deci
centi
milli
micro
nano
pico
femto
atto
d
c
m
m
n
p
f
a
Table 932:
Examples
TByte
GHz, GByte,
MHz, Mbit/s,
km (kilometer), kg (kilogram),
hl (hectoliter), ha (hectare)
dg (decigram), dl (deciliter)
cm (centimeter), cl (centiliter)
mm (millimeter), ml (milliliter)
mm (micrometer), mg (microgram)
nm (nanometer), ns (nanosecond)
ps (picosecond), pf (picofarad)
fs (femtosecond)
Commonly used prefixes of SI multiples and sub---multiples
Quantity
Force
Energy
Energy
Energy
Power
Frequency
Electrical potential
Electrical charge
Electrical resistance
Electrical conductance
Electrical capacitance
Magnetic inductance
Magnetic flux
Magnetic flux density
Area
Volume
Volume
Velocity (speed)
Temperature
Pressure
Pressure
Torque (force x distance)
Electric field strength
Magnetic field strength
Plane angle (arc length)
Table 933:
Multiplication factor
1018 = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000
1015 = 1,000,000,000,000,000
1012 = 1,000,000,000,000
109 = 1,000,000,000
106 = 1,000,000
103 = 1,000
102 = 100
101 = 10
100 = 1
10 ---1 = 0.1
10 ---2 = 0.01
10 ---3 = 0.001
10 ---6 = 0.000001
10 ---9 = 0.000000001
10 ---12 = 0.000000000001
10 ---15 = 0.000000000000001
10 ---18 = 0.000000000000000001
Unit name
newton
joule
kilowatt hour
electron volt
watt
hertz
volt
coulomb
ohm
siemens
farad
henry
weber
tesla
square meter
cubic meter
liter
meter per second
degree Celsius
pascal
standard atmosphere
degree
arcmin (minute)
arcsec (second)
Unit symbol (derivation)

N (kgms ---2)
J (Nm) or (Ws) or (kgm2s2)
kWh (3.6 106 J)
eV (1.6 10 ---19 J)
W (Js ---1) or (kgm2 s ---3)
Hz (s ---1)
---1
V (JC ) or (WA ---1)
C (As)
W (V A ---1)
S (A V ---1)
F (C V ---1) or (A s V ---1)
H (Wb A ---1) or (V s A ---1)
Wb (Vs)
T (Wb m ---2)
m2
m3
L (10 ---3 m3)
ms ---1
C
Pa (Nm ---2) or (kg m ---1 s ---2)
atm (1.01325 105 Pa)
Nm (newton meter)
V m ---1 (volt per meter)
A m ---1 (ampere per meter)
1 = (/180) rad
1 = (1/60)
1 = (1/60)
Derived units commonly used in science and engineering 5902)
Numbers
3DMA . . . . . . . . . Three---Dimensional Microgravity Accelerometer (Shuttle payload)
_____________________
5902) R. A. Nelson, Guide for Metric Practice, Physics Today, Supplement to August 1997 issue, pp. 13---14
3357
A
AAAS . . . . . . . . . American Association for the Advancement of Science (Washington
DC)
AC . . . . . . . . . . . ngstrm Aerospace Corporation, Uppsala, Sweden (since 2005),
AC is a spin---off company of Uppsala University research department ngstrm Space Technology Centre (STC). In November 2008,
the company changed name to AC Microtec.
AAE . . . . . . . . . . . Austrian Aerospace GmbH, Vienna, Austria (a subsidiary of Saab Ericsson Space, Sweden)
AAOE . . . . . . . . . Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment (1987)
AAPPS . . . . . . . . Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies (Bulletin, online journal)
AARGOS . . . . . . A340 Atmospheric Research Global Observation System (MOZAIC)
AARI . . . . . . . . . . Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (St. Petersburg, Russia)
AARS . . . . . . . . . Asian Association on Remote Sensing
AAS . . . . . . . . . . . Alcatel Alenia Space (French / Italian company as of July 1, 2005). Alcatel Alenia Space has 11 industrial sites in 4 European countries
(France, Italy, Spain and Belgium)
AAS---E . . . . . . . . Alcatel Alenia Space Espana
AAS---F . . . . . . . . Alcatel Alenia Space France, --- --- --- Note: As of April 10, 2007, the EC
approved the transfer to Thales of Alcatel---Lucents shareholdings in
the two space sector joint venture companies Alcatel Alenia Space and
Telespazio. Hence, Alcatel Alenia Space was renamed to Thales Alenia Space
AAS---I . . . . . . . . Alcatel Alenia Space Italia
AAS . . . . . . . . . . . American Astronomical Society
AASE . . . . . . . . . . Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (see campaign survey)
AAT . . . . . . . . . . . Automatic Aerial Triangulation (image location technique). The method permits automatic tie point extraction using image---matching
techniques to automate the point transfer and the point mensuration
procedures. At the start of the 21st century the AAT solution has
reached the accuracy level of a conventional aerial triangulation.
ABI . . . . . . . . . . . Advanced Baseline Imager (GOES---R instrument in study/planning
phase by NOAA and NASA)
ABLE . . . . . . . . . Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment (campaign)
ABYSS . . . . . . . . . Altimetric Bathymetry from Surface Slopes (a proposed altimetry mission of JHU/APL)
AC . . . . . . . . . . . . Alternating Current
ACC . . . . . . . . . . . Anthropogenic Climate Change (CLIVAR subprogram)
ACCESS . . . . . . . Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure
(Shuttle)
ACE . . . . . . . . . . . Advanced Composition Explorer (NASA, APL, etc., see K.1)
ACE---1, ---2 . . . . Aerosol Characterization Experiment (campaigns)
ACE . . . . . . . . . . . Agencia Chilena del Espacio (Chilean Space Agency), Santiago, Chile
ACE . . . . . . . . . . . Atmosphere Climate Experiment (an ESA mission, A.1)
ACES . . . . . . . . . . Acoustic Containerless Experiment System (Shuttle payload)
ACORN . . . . . . . Airborne Composition Observations in the Region of the North---Atlantic---Corridor (P.41.2)
ACRS . . . . . . . . . Asian Conference on Remote Sensing
ACRES . . . . . . . . Australian Centre for Remote Sensing (Belconnen, Australia)
ACSYS . . . . . . . . Arctic Climate System Study (WCRP program)
ACT . . . . . . . . . . . Applied Coherent Technology, Herndon VA (commercial provider of
remote sensing products, operator of satellites, etc.)
ACTS . . . . . . . . . . Advanced Communications Technology Satellite in GEO (NASA,
Launch: Sept. 1993 by Shuttle Discovery, STS---51 (Sept.12---22, 1993).
A/D . . . . . . . . . . . Analog/Digital converter (also written as ADC)
3358
ADAM . . . . . . . . Advanced Data Acquisition and Messaging System [ a DCS (Data

Collection System) flown on FedSat---1 (Australia) and STSat---1 (Korea)
ADC . . . . . . . . . . Analog Digital Converter
ADCP . . . . . . . . . Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers [(U. of Florida, Tokai University,
Hiroshima University, Kyushu University, Japan, and CSIRO), subsurface upward---looking moorings]
ADEN . . . . . . . . . ALOS Data European Node [an ESA initiative involving a number of
distributed acquisition facilities capable of receiving ALOS data (SAR
and optical) for European users: a) Toulouse (France) with upgraded
X---band stations, b) DLR Neustrelitz (Germany) and Libreville (Gabon), c) TSS Tromsoe (Norway) and SSC Sturup (Sweden) ASI Mataira
(Italy) and Maspalomas (Spain)]
ADEOS . . . . . . . . Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (NASDA, D.1, D.2)
ADM . . . . . . . . . . Atmospheric Dynamics Mission (ESA Earth Explorer Core Mission)
ADPCM . . . . . . . Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation (a lossy data compression technique)
ADS . . . . . . . . . . . Aerobrake Deorbiting System (a technique to deorbit satellites)
ADS---B . . . . . . . . Automatic Dependent Surveillance---Broadcast [an FAA system
installed in aircraft (first prototypes as of 2000). When coupled with
GPS, an aircrafts ADS---B unit can continuously broadcast its identification, position, altitude, direction, speed, rate of climb or descend,
etc.] ADS---B is a key technology to free flight.
ADSF . . . . . . . . . . Automated Directional Solidification Furnace (Shuttle payload)
ADSL . . . . . . . . . Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (communications)
ADV CGBA . . . . Advanced Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (Shuttle)
ADV XDT . . . . . Advanced X---Ray Detector (Shuttle payload)
AEAP . . . . . . . . . Atmospheric Effects Aircraft Program (NASA)
AEB . . . . . . . . . . . Agencia Espacial Brasileira --- Brazilian Space Agency, Brasilia, Brazil
(since 1994)
AEHF . . . . . . . . . Advanced EHF (Extremely---High Frequency) for RF communications, also a communication satellite program of the USAF. The first
spacecraft, AEHF---1, was launched on Aug. 14, 2010.
AEM---1 . . . . . . . . Applications Explorers Mission---1 (see HCMM A.21)
AEM---2 . . . . . . . . Applications Explorers Mission---2 (A.5)
AERCam/Sprint . Autonomous Extravehicular Activity Robotic Camera Sprint [Shuttle
free---flying camera, first flown on STS---87 (Nov. 19 --- Dec. 5, 1997)]
AEROCE . . . . . . Atmospheric/Ocean Chemistry Experiment (campaign)
Aerospace Corp. . The Aerospace Corporation (since 1960), a US private nonprofit research and development center with HQs in El Segundo, CA. Aerospace operates a Federally Funded Research and Development Center
(FFRDC) for the Department of Defense (DoD). The primary customer is the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) of the US Air Force
Materiel Command. The Aerospace Corporation provides engineering
services and space technology expertise to DoD space programs and
other US government agencies. Other company locations are in the
Washington DC area, Colorado Springs, CO, Albuquerque, NM, Sunnyvale CA, VAFB, CA, and at KSC (Kennedy Space Center), FLA.
Aerospatiale . . . . A French aerospace conglomerate with 38,000 employees, HQ in Paris.
Builder of the main stages of Ariane 4 and 5. Manufacturer of satellites
and sensors. Three major divisions: Aircraft, Helicopters, and Space &
Defense. Spacecraft platforms: Spacebus series.
AES . . . . . . . . . . . Advanced Encryption Standard
AES . . . . . . . . . . . Atmospheric Environment Service (of Environment Canada)
AESA . . . . . . . . . Active Electronically Scanned Array (a new radar antenna technology
for rapid target detection and mapping)
AESA . . . . . . . . . Atmospheric Effects of Stratospheric Aircraft (NASA)
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AF . . . . . . . . . . . . US Air Force
AFB . . . . . . . . . . . Air Force Base (US Air Force)
AFC . . . . . . . . . . . Affiliated Data Center (these are institutional facilities that are affiliated with EOSDIS, in particular NOAA facilities are AFCs)
AFE . . . . . . . . . . . American Flight Echocardiograph (Shuttle payload)
AFGL . . . . . . . . . Air Force Geophysics Laboratory (Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA,
USA) Note: in 1998 AGFL was renamed to Hanscom Research Site
AFP---675 . . . . . . Air Force Program 675 (Shuttle payload)
AFNOR . . . . . . . . Association francaise de normalization (French standards institute)
AFOSR . . . . . . . . Air Force Office of Scientific Research (an AFRL directorate and manager of basic research)
AFRL . . . . . . . . . Air Force Research Laboratory (USA). The nine AFRL sites are located at: Wright Laboratory, Wright---Patterson AFB, Ohio (AFRL
HQs, directorates of: Air Vehicles, Propulsion, Directed Energy, and
Materials & Manufacturing); Hanscom AFB, MA (Sensors directorate); Phillips Research Site, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM (Space
Vehicles directorate); Rome Laboratory, Griffiss AFB, Rome, NY; Edwards AFB, Edwards, CA; Brooks AFB, TX; Eglin AFB, FL; Tyndall
AFB, FL; Bolling AFB (AFOSR directorate), Washington DC.
AFS . . . . . . . . . . . Atomic Frequency Standard [AFS is used in atomic clocks flown on
radionavigation systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, etc.) as well as in
other spaceborne missions]. There are Rubidium (Rb) AFS, Cesium
(Cs) AFS, Passive Hydrogen Maser (PHM) AFS, etc.
AFSCN . . . . . . . . Air Force Satellite Control Network (USA)
AFSK . . . . . . . . . . Amplitude Frequency Shift Keying (modulation technique)
AFOSR . . . . . . . . Air Force Office of Scientific Research (part of AFRL, DoD, USA,
AFOSR manages the Air Forces investment in basic research)
AFWA . . . . . . . . . Air Force Weather Agency (USAF) at Offutt Air Force Base (OAFB),
Bellevue, Nebraska, USA (south of Omaha). AFWA analyses large
amounts of weather data and forecasts global cloud cover.
AGARD . . . . . . . Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development. AGARD
is a NATO agency (with HQ in Neuilly---sur Seine, France), formed in
1954, with the objective to enhance the exchange of aerospace technology within NATO.
AGASP . . . . . . . . Arctic Gas and Aerosols Sampling Project (airborne campaign)
AGC . . . . . . . . . . Antenna Gain Control
AGGA . . . . . . . . . Advanced GPS/GLONASS ASIC (ESA/ESTEC development). As of
the end of 2000 the AGGA---2 chip set is available to European industry, it is manufactured by Atmel of Nantes, France (Atmel product code
T7905E). It is used in GRAS, in the LAGRANGE GNSS receiver of
Laben SpA, Italy, and in the RIMS stations of the EGNOS program.
AGGA---2 supports such EO applications as RO (Radio Occultation)
and POD (Precise Orbit Determination).
With the new GNSS signal availability in the middle of next decade
(~ 2015), the AGGA---4 component will enable the digital processing
of all the public signals in modernized GPS, Galileo and possibly
Beidou/Compass and Glonass too.
AGILE . . . . . . . . Astro---rivelatore Gamma ad Immagini LEggero (Gamma---ray
Astronomical Low---Mass Detector), an approved ASI mission with a
planned launch in 2006
AGL . . . . . . . . . . . Above Ground Level (usually the altitude of aircraft)
AGN . . . . . . . . . . Active Galactic Nuclei
AGU . . . . . . . . . . American Geophysical Union (a society with over 35,000 members in
over 115 countries. The objective is to advance progress in the Earth,
atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic, and space and planetary sciences.)
AHRPT . . . . . . . . Advanced High Resolution Picture Transmission (a transmission standard of WMO for polar orbiting meteorological satellites)
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AIAA . . . . . . . . . .
AIDAA . . . . . . . .
AIDJEX . . . . . . .
AIM . . . . . . . . . . .
AIMO . . . . . . . . .
Airbus Industrie .
AIRS . . . . . . . . . .
AIRSS . . . . . . . . .
AIP . . . . . . . . . . . .
AIP . . . . . . . . . . . .
AIS . . . . . . . . . . . .
AIT . . . . . . . . . . .
AIV . . . . . . . . . . .
AKR . . . . . . . . . .
ALACE . . . . . . . .
ALE/GAGE . . . .
Alenia Spazio . . .
ALEXIS . . . . . . .
ALISSA . . . . . . . .
AlGaN . . . . . . . . .
ALMA . . . . . . . . .

American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics (Reston, VA)
Associazione Italiana Di Aeronautica e Astronautica (Rome, Italy)
Arctic Ice Dynamics Joint Experiment (campaign)
AEG Infrarot Module GmbH, Heilbronn, Germany (since 1976, developer and manufacturer of infrared devices such as QWIPs since 1996).
AIM is a subsidiary of BGT, a company of Diehls Defence/Avionics Division, and of EHG, a company of DaimlerChrysler AG.
Asymmetric Inverted Mode Operation [AIMO is a standard CCD but
with extra implants under one set of electrodes. With the right clocking
it can give between 20---100 times less dark current (equivalent to an extra 15 to 30C of cooling)]
A consortium of European aerospace companies, founded in 1970.
(partners are: Aerospatiale of France, DASA Airbus of Germany, British Aerospace, and Spains CASA). Italys Alenia, Fokker of the Netherlands, and Belairbus in Belgium are associate members who participate in selected programs. Some 32,000 people work directly for Airbus
Industrie within the partner companies. Airbus Industrie is headquartered near Toulouse, France. Builder of civil aircraft (Airbus).
Autonomous Information Reception Station (see Meteor---3M series)
Alternative Infrared Satellite System (DoD program intended to provide strategic and tactical missile warning for the U.S. in the middle of
the next decade)
American Institute of Physics
Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam (Germany)
Automatic Identification System [IMO (International Maritime Organization) mandatory system in shipping since July 2002 --- an automatic
electronic reporting device i.e., a transponder fitted to a ship and operating in the VHF maritime band]
Assembly, Integration and Test (of a spacecraft, etc. )
Assembly, Integration and Verification (tasks, usually in connection
with a S/C)
Auroral Kilometric Radiation (ionospheric phenomenon)
Autonomous Lagrangian Circulation Explorer (free---floating ocean
buoys designed to seek a pre---programmed depth; they drift with the
ocean currents of that depth, and pop up periodically to report their
position to a satellite), see also PALACE
Atmospheric Lifetime Experiment/Global Atmospheric Gas Experiment (campaign)
Alenia Aerospazio S.p.A. is a company of the Finemeccanica IRI
group, an Italian consortium in aerospace, defense, energy, transportation and automation markets. Partner in many space programs (2500
employees), builder of COSMO---SkyMed. Subsidiaries: Laben S.p.A.
(Laboratori Elettronici Nucleari) in Vimodrone (Milano, Italy) since
1958; SSI (Space Software Italia S.p.A. in Taranto, Italy; QSW (Quadrics Supercomputer World Ltd.) in Rome, Italy; HCSA (Hellenic Company for Space Applications S.A.) in Paradisos Amarousiou, Italy; EuroSkyWay in Rome, Italy
Array of Low Energy X---Ray Imaging Sensors (LANL, K.3)
lAtmosphere par LIdar Sur SAliout (the French sensor was at first proposed by CNES for a Salyut flight)
Aluminum gallium nitride is a semiconductor material which is also
used to manufacture light---emitting diodes operating in the blue to ultraviolet region (down to 250 nm)
Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (of ESO) in Chile located at an altitude of 5000 m. Actually, the ALMA buildup and operation represents an international partnership of Europe, North America
East Asia and the Republic of Chile as host country. When completed
in 2012, ALMA will consist of 66 telescopes (forming a sparse array of
ALMAZ . . . . . . .
ALOHA . . . . . . .
ALOHA . . . . . . .
ALOS . . . . . . . . .
ALPEX . . . . . . . .
ALR . . . . . . . . . .
AM . . . . . . . . . . . .
AM . . . . . . . . . . . .
AM0 . . . . . . . . . . .
AMBIACE . . . . .
AMEX . . . . . . . . .
AMISR . . . . . . . .
AMM . . . . . . . . . .
AMM . . . . . . . . . .
AMOLED . . . . . .
AMOS . . . . . . . . .
AMOS . . . . . . . . .
AMPTE . . . . . . . .
AMR . . . . . . . . . .
AMS . . . . . . . . . .
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antennas) of 12 m and 7 m in diameter --- that when electronically combined simulate a telescope diameter of up to 15 km. On Nov. 17, 2009,
ALMA made its first measurements using just two of the 66 antennas
that will comprise the array. As of January 4, 2010, three antennas are
working in unison. --- ALMA is the largest and most ambitious ground--based observatory ever created with full service provision expected in
2012. 5903)
ALMAZ = rough diamond (Earth observation series, Russia), D.4
One of several communication access methods
Airborne Lidar and Observations of the Hawaiian Airglow (campaign)
Advanced Land Observing Satellite (D.3)
Alpine Experiment (campaign)
Agentur fr Luft--- und Raumfahrt, Wien, Austria (Aeronautics and
Space Agency of Austria) since 2005, formerly ASA (since 1972)
Amplitude Modulation (modulation technique of the main carrier)
Ante Meridiem (US time notation designating morning hours, to distinguish from PM)
Air---mass---zero (calibration measure of solar cells, measurement at
top of atmosphere). See also Glossary for Air---mass---zero.
Amazon Biogeochemistry and Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment
(campaign)
Australian Monsoon Experiment (campaign)
Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar. AMISR is coordinated
by SRI International, Menlo Park, CA. The AMISR facility system establishes a new state---of---the---art for ISR (Incoherent Scatter Radar)
design by implementing fully electronic beam steering with a phased array of 4096 UHF transceivers.
Advanced Microsatellite Mission (an ESA spacecraft platform developed by Astrium Ltd.)
Antarctic Mapping Mission (Radarsat)
Active Matrix Organic Light---Emitting Diode (a 3---D OLED display
technology). An AMOLED display consists of OLED pixels that have
been deposited or integrated onto a thin film transistor (TFT) array to
form a matrix of pixels that illuminate light upon electrical activation.
AMOLEDs consume significantly less power than OLEDs.
Afro---Mediterranean Orbital System. A family of commercial Israeli
geosynchronous telecommunications vehicles developed, launched
and controlled by IAI. AMOS---1 was launched on May 16, 1996
(launch mass of 961 kg, built by Alcatel Espace of France and Daimler--Benz Aerospace of Germany). AMOS---2 (1370 kg mass) was launched
on Dec. 27, 2003 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. AMOS---3 (1300 kg
mass) was launched from Baikonur on April 28, 2008. The AMOS
series S/C are the property of Spacecom.
Air Force Maui Optical Station (Shuttle experiment). AMOS is located
at the summit of Haleakala, on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The Air
Force experiment is using the Shuttle orbiter as a calibration target for a
ground---based experiment (research for electro---optical sensors)
Active Magnetosphere Particle Tracer Explorers (cooperative mission
of US/ NASA, Germany and UK, K.4)
Anisotropic Magneto---Resistance. AMR is the property of a material
in which a dependence of electrical resistance on the angle between the
direction of electrical current and orientation of magnetic field is observed.
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (Shuttle payload) AMS was first flown
on STS---91 (June 2 --- 12, 1998). It is an anti---matter demonstration, an
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AMS . . . . . . . . . .
AMSAR . . . . . . .
AMSAT . . . . . . . .
AMSTAP . . . . . . .
AMTEC . . . . . . .
AMV . . . . . . . . . .
ANARS . . . . . . . .
ANGKASA . . . . .
ANL . . . . . . . . . . .
ANSI . . . . . . . . . .
ANSTO . . . . . . . .
Antrix Corp. Ltd .
ANTS . . . . . . . . . .
AO . . . . . . . . . . . .
AOCS . . . . . . . . .
AOET . . . . . . . . .
AOGS . . . . . . . . .
AOS . . . . . . . . . . .
AOTF . . . . . . . . .
APARE . . . . . . . .
APCF . . . . . . . . . .
APCG . . . . . . . . .
APC---MCSTA . .
APD . . . . . . . . . . .
APDA . . . . . . . . .
APE . . . . . . . . . . .
APE . . . . . . . . . . .
APEX . . . . . . . . .
APEX . . . . . . . . .
APFO . . . . . . . . .
APL . . . . . . . . . . .
APM . . . . . . . . . .
APRS . . . . . . . . . .
APRSAF . . . . . . .

experiment with international cooperation from: USA, China, Finland,
Germany Italy, and Switzerland
American Meteorological Society
Airborne Multifunction Solid---State Active Array Radar (European
Fighter Radar Program) under development for operation in 2015
The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (worldwide groups of Amateur Radio Operators (volunteers, normally organized by country),
building, launching and communicating with each other through non--commercial amateur satellites, since 1969, also the name of satellites)
Aerospace Microsystems Technology Applications Partnership (a UK
initiative started in 2000)
Alkali Metal Thermal---to---Electric Converter (Shuttle payload)
Atmospheric Motion Vector (a meteorological data product)
Autonomous Navigation and Attitude Reference System (Shuttle payload)
National Space Agency of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (since 2002)
Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne, IL, USA, a DOE facility, operated by the University of Chicago)
American National Standards Institute
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization
Bangalore, India (the commercial marketing arm of ISRO, Antrix is
the distributor of IRS data, etc.)
Autonomous Nano---Technology Swarm (a proposed mission architecture for scalable, robust, highly distributed systems at NASA)
Announcement of Opportunity (usually for a sensor on a particular
mission)
Attitude and Orbit Control System
Atomic Oxygen Exposure Tray (Shuttle D2 mission)
Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (Singapore)
Acousto---Optical Spectrometer
Acousto---Optic Tunable Filter (an imaging dispersion technique)
Asia/North Pacific Regional Study (campaign)
Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility (Shuttle, see also PCF)
Advanced Protein Crystal Growth (Shuttle, see also PCG)
Asia---Pacific Conference on Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications [sponsored by CNSA (China National Space
Administration) and organized by Chinese Society for Astronautics]
Avalanche Photodiode (detector type)
Arctic Precipitation Data Archive
Airborne Polar Experiment (campaign)
Auroral Photography Experiment (Shuttle payload)
Active Plasma Experiment (Intercosmos, K.5)
Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (of ESO --- the European Southern
Observatory in the Atacama desert of Chile)
Aerial Photography Field Office (Salt Lake City, UT, USA)
Applied Physics Laboratory, since 1942, a facility of Johns Hopkins
University (JHU), in Laurel, MD, USA
Ascent Particle Monitor (Shuttle experiment)
Automatic Position Reporting System (a protocol used by the Amateur
Radio community)
Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (since 1993 --- to enhance
the development of each countrys space program and to exchange
views toward the future cooperation in space activities in the Asia---Pacific region). APRSAF is an annual meeting initiated jointly by MEXT/
JAXA of Japan, and a co---host country. Examples:
APRSAF---11 took place in Oct. 2004 in Canberra, Australia
APRSAF---12 took place in Oct. 2005 in Kitakyushu, Japan
APS . . . . . . . . . . .
APSC . . . . . . . . . .
APT . . . . . . . . . . .
APV . . . . . . . . . . .
A&R . . . . . . . . . .
AR . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARAT . . . . . . . . .
ARC . . . . . . . . . . .
ARC . . . . . . . . . . .
Archimedes I, II .
ARCO Solar Inc.
ARCS . . . . . . . . . .
ARCSS . . . . . . . .
ARESE . . . . . . . .
ARGO . . . . . . . . .
ARGO . . . . . . . . .
ARGOS . . . . . . . .
ARGOS . . . . . . . .
ARIANESPACE
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APRSAF---13 took place in Dec. 2006 in Jakarta, Indonesia

APRSAF---14 took place in Nov. 2007 in Bangalore, India
APRSAF---15 took place in Dec. 2008 in Hanoi, Vietnam
APRSAF---16 , took place in January 2010, Bangkok, Thailand
Active Pixel Sensor
Asia Pacific Space Center, located on Australias Christmas Island. The
Indian Ocean island is located about 1560 km northwest of Australia,
close to the equator. Rosaviakosmos of Russia is expected to launch satellites from the island starting in 2004 (new Aurora launch vehicle, an
upgrade version of the Soyuz launch vehicle).
Automatic Picture Transmission (one type of NOAA downlink transmission; APT transmits data from two channels of the AVHRR at a reduced resolution of 4 km in the VHF frequency band (at 137.50 and
137.62 MHz)).
Autonomously Piloted Vehicle (Condor)
Automation and Robotics (technology)
Anthrorack (Shuttle D2 mission)
Avion de Recherche Atmosphrique et de Tldtection (Atmospheric
Research and Remote Sensing Aircraft), ARAT is jointly operated by
INSU---CNRS, CNES, DMN (French National Weather Center), and
IGN (Institut Gographique National). The aircraft is IGN property.
ARAT is a Fokker 27 MK pressurized twin turboprop aircraft (service
altitude = 5800 m, cruising speed = 350 km/h, flight endurance = 5 hr;
on---board computer systems: HP1000 A900, recordings on high---capacity digital video cassette, two Exabyte 2.5 GByte recorders) .
Ames Research Center (NASA facility at Moffett Field, CA, and at the
Dryden Flight Research Facility in Edwards, CA, USA)
Aggregation of Red Blood Cells (Shuttle experiment)
Coordinated European airborne campaigns in the North Sea region
(start in 1983, Archimedes IIa took place in April 1988)
Since 1979, a subsidiary of Atlantic Richfield Company, located in Camarillo, CA. In February 1990, Siemens A.G. of Munich, Germany, acquired ARCO Solar, the worlds largest photovoltaic company. It is
now Siemens Solar Industries.
Austrian Research Center Seibersdorf (since 1956, with sites at Seibersdorf, Leoben, Ranshofen, Vienna, Graz, Dornbirn, Wiener--Neustadt, and Budapest)
Arctic Center of System Science (at NSIDC of U. of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA)
ARM Enhanced Shortwave Experiment (campaign)
Accurate Ranging system for Geodetic Observations (SLR program of
Korea)
Array for Geostrophic Oceanography, a global array of buoys [an international ocean program, part of GCOS/GOOS and CLIVAR --eventually it will consist of an array of 3000 free---drifting (Lagrangian)
profiling floats, at various depths, that measure the temperature and salinity of the upper 2000 m of the ocean; start of deployment in 2000].
ARGO represents a global network of sea---going floats for a better understanding of the worlds oceans. Note: the acronym ARGO was abandoned several years ago, so the project is now Argo rather than
ARGO.
Argos (CNES System) is a data collection and location system with a
space segment and a ground segment. ARGOS is operational on
NOAA polar---orbiting S/C. G.15.4, C.2
Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (DoD, M.3)
A commercial launch service provider of Europe with HQ in France
(since 1980, first commercial operator of launchers in the world).
Twelve European countries participate in the Ariane program.
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ARIES . . . . . . . . . Australian Resource Information and Environment Satellite

ARISTOTELES . Applications and Research Involving Space Techniques Observing The
Earths Field from Low Earth Orbiting Satellite (planned but cancelled
ESA Mission)
ARM . . . . . . . . . . Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (campaign program of DOE)
ARMCAS . . . . . . Arctic Radiation Measurements in Column Atmosphere---Surface System (campaign)
ARNS . . . . . . . . . Aeronautical Radionavigation Service (GPS, GALILEO)
ARTEMIS . . . . . . Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite (ESA)
ARTES . . . . . . . . Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems [ESA program
(since 1993) consisting of several elements: ARTES 1: Strategy,
ARTES 2: On---Board Processing, ARTES 3: Multimedia, ARTES 4:
Partnership, and ARTES 5: Technology, etc.]
ARPA . . . . . . . . . Advanced Research Project Administration (US, agency of DoD, since
1958, was renamed to DARPA)
ARQ . . . . . . . . . . Automatic---Repeat Request
ARRL . . . . . . . . . American Radio Relay League (US national association for amateur
radio)
ASA . . . . . . . . . . . American Standards Association (e.g. the original film speeds came out
of work by Kodak on the practical measurement of film speeds in the
1940s). The international ASA/BS/DIN standard is from 1960---71.
ASA . . . . . . . . . . . Austrian Space Agency (Vienna, Austria, since 1972). Note: as of 2005,
ASA was renamed and reorganized into FFG/ALR (see below).
ASAL . . . . . . . . . . Agence Spatiale Algrienne (Algerian Space Agency), Algiers, Algeria
(since 2002)
ASAP . . . . . . . . . . Adaptive Sensor Array Processing (MIT/LL)
ASAP . . . . . . . . . . Advanced Sensors Application Program (US Navy)
ASAP . . . . . . . . . . Airborne Science and Application Program (USGS, NASA)
ASAP . . . . . . . . . . Ariane Structure for Auxiliary Payloads (ASAP provides launch opportunities for microsatellites on a commercial basis, the ASAP---5 ring
structure can accommodate up to 8 microsatellites with a volume restriction of 60 cm x 60 cm x 80 cm)
ASC . . . . . . . . . . . Advanced Stellar Compass (a star tracker of DTU --- Technical University of Denmark)
ASCOT . . . . . . . . Atmospheric Studies in Complex Terrain (campaign)
ASCS . . . . . . . . . . Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (USA)
ASDAR . . . . . . . . Aircraft to Satellite Data Relay (wind observations are reported from
commercial aircraft at cruising altitude via meteorological satellite
communication links at 7 minute intervals)
ASE . . . . . . . . . . . Automatic Air---Sampling Equipment, see P.41.4
ASEM . . . . . . . . . Assembly of Station by EVA Methods (Shuttle demonstration)
ASES . . . . . . . . . . American Solar Energy Society
ASF . . . . . . . . . . . Alaska SAR Facility in Fairbanks, Alaska (DAAC of NASA EOS Program. ASF is located at the Geophysical Institute of the University of
Alaska at Fairbanks. Position: 65N, 148W. ASF is in effect a US---PAF
for ERS---1/2 data as well as for JERS---1 and RADARSAT data.)
ASHOE . . . . . . . . Airborne Southern Hemisphere Ozone Experiment (campaign)
ASI . . . . . . . . . . . . Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (formerly PSN). ASI is the Italian Space
Agency, Rome (since 1988)
ASI/CGS . . . . . . . ASI/Centro di Geodesia Guiseppe Colombo in Matera, Italy, for
Space Geodesy, Remote Sensing and Space Robotics. CGS hosts the
I---PAF (Italian Processing and Archiving Facility), a multimission facility for archiving, processing and distributing remote sensing data.
ASI . . . . . . . . . . . . Alcatel Space Industries, France, since 1998 (ASI represents the merger of four space hardware development divisions from Alcatel, Dassault, Thomson and Aerospatiale)
As of July 1, 2005, Alcatel of Paris and Finmeccanica (parent company
ASIC . . . . . . . . . .
ASIM . . . . . . . . . .
ASIM . . . . . . . . . .
ASIT . . . . . . . . . .
ASM . . . . . . . . . . .
ASP . . . . . . . . . . .
ASPRS . . . . . . . . .
ASRI . . . . . . . . . .
ASRI . . . . . . . . . .
ASTEX . . . . . . . .
ASTP . . . . . . . . . .
ASTRE . . . . . . . .
Astrium . . . . . . . .
ASTRO . . . . . . . .
ASTRO---SPAS . .
ASU . . . . . . . . . . .
AT&T . . . . . . . . .
3365
of Telespazio and Alenia Space) of Milano announced the creation of

two new joint ventures (companies) effective as of July 1, 2005: Alcatel
Alenia Space and Telespazio Holding. --- Alcatel Alenia Space now
combines the activities of Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio with HQ in
Cannes, France. It focuses on the design, development, and manufacturing of space systems, satellites, payloads, orbital infrastructures and
space transportation, instruments and associated ground systems for civilian and military applications. --- Telespazio Holding with HQ in
Rome, Italy, combines Telespazio with Alcatel Space Services and Operations activities.
Application Specific Integrated Circuit
Application Specific Microinstrument
Appliqu Sensor Interface Module --- a hardware and software element of the emerging SPA (Spacecraft Plug---and---Play Avionics)
standard. An ASIM functions as a bridge between a typical SPA interface and a user module and delivers automatic support for useful services including power management, synchronization, electronic data
sheet etc.
Applied Signal & Image Technology, (compression technology) Glen
Burnie, MD
All---Sky Monitor
Attitude Sensor Package (Shuttle payload of ESA)
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (Bethesda, MD, since 1934)
Asher Space Research Institute (of Technion Israel Institute of
Technology, Haifa, since 1986)
Australian Space Research Institute, Elizabeth, SA [ASRI, a non--profit organisation, came about in the early 1990s as the result of a
merger between the AUSROC Launch Vehicle Development Group at
Monash University in Melbourne and the Australian Space Engineering Research Association (ASERA)]
Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (airborne campaign at
the Azores in 1992)
Apollo---Soyuz Test Project (1975)
Acclromtre Spatial Triaxial Electrostatique [an ESA accelerometer
built by ONERA and part of ESAs MMA (Microgravity Measurement
Assembly) flown on Shuttle flights STS---83 and STS---94]
Astrium is the name of a new European space company of EADS and of
BAE Systems (UK), formally created in May 2000. Astrium is a merger
of Aerospatiale Matra of Paris, France, DASA of Munich Germany,
and Marconi Electronic Systems of Stanmore, UK. German Astrium
facilities are located at Friedrichshafen, Ottobrunn, Bremen, Lampoldhausen, Rostock and Trauen. The German Astrium company is
called Astrium GmbH. The French/British MMS (Matra Marconi
Space) facilities are located at Portsmouth and Stevenhage, UK, and at
Toulouse and Vlizy, France. The French company is referred to as Astrium SAS, while the UK company is called Astrium Ltd.
Autonomous Space Transfer and Robotic Orbiter (DARPA concept
study as of 2002). The objective is to service military and commercial
satellites within a specified range of orbital inclinations and altitudes.
Another key component of the study is NEXTSat which is representative of a next---generation class of satellites designed to be serviced by
the ASTRO. A demonstration launch of ASTRO is planned for 2004.
Astronomy Platform --- Shuttle Pallet Satellite
Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
American Telephone&Telegraph company [AT&T was the largest
phone company in the world (US monopoly) prior to its divestiture in
1984 (consequence of US government deregulation policy)]. The Bell
3366
ATEx . . . . . . . . . .
ATEX . . . . . . . . .
ATI . . . . . . . . . . . .
ATLAS . . . . . . . .
ATLAS . . . . . . . .
ATLID . . . . . . . . .
ATM . . . . . . . . . .
ATN . . . . . . . . . . .
ATS . . . . . . . . . . .
ATS . . . . . . . . . . .
ATSB . . . . . . . . . .
ATTAS . . . . . . . . .
ATV . . . . . . . . . . .
ATV . . . . . . . . . . .
AU . . . . . . . . . . . .
AURA . . . . . . . . .
AUSPACE . . . . . .
AVHRR . . . . . . .
Avionics . . . . . . .
AVISO . . . . . . . . .
AWACS . . . . . . . .
AWCS . . . . . . . . .

Laboratories (Bell Labs) were part of AT&T. A portion of the former
AT&T was regrouped in 1996 with the founding of Lucent Technologies
Inc.
Advanced Tether Experiment (NRL)
Atlantic Tropospheric Experiment (campaign)
Along---Track Interferometry
Atmospheric Laboratory for Application and Science (NASA program, payload series on Shuttle), J.2
Autonomous Temperature Line Acquisition System (NOAA/PMEL
mooring system measuring surface wind, air temperature, SST, ten subsurface temperatures and two subsurface pressures; all data are monitored by ARGOS)
Atmospheric Lidar (Sensor), an ESA backscatter lidar
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ITU---T network standard for cell relay)
Advanced TIROS---N Series (NOAA, launched from 1983 on)
Air Traffic Service (a communications service)
Application Technology Satellite (NASA GEO satellite series prior to
GOES)
Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
[Note: in this official name the (M) stands for Malaysia, while Sdn. Bhd.
is the equivalent of Co. Ltd.]. ATSB is a space research and development organization (operation of TiungSat---1, RazakSat).
Advanced Technology Testing Aircraft System (VFW---614 of DLR)
Roton Atmospheric Test Vehicle (of Rotary Rocket Company, Redwood City, CA). Roton ATV is a fully reusable, single---stage---to---orbit, commercial launch vehicle. Roton is powered by a rotary engine
burning liquid oxygen and jet fuel. ATV made its first successful flight
on July 23, 1999.
Automated Transfer Vehicle (ESA cargo resupply vehicle for ISS --payloads of up to 7,500 kg can be delivered). The inaugural launch of
ATV (Jules Verne) took place on March 9, 2008 on an Ariane 5 launch
vehicle from Kourou.
Astronomical Unit, Sun---Earth distance = 1.496 x 108 km (average)
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy [Washington
DC, since 1957, AURA/STSI (Space Telescope Science Institute) is the
operator of the Hubble Space Telescope for NASA]
Auspace Ltd. of Mawson Lakes, South Australia (provider of electronic
equipment, FedSat, etc.). Auspace is a wholly owned subsidiary of
EADS Astrium.
Advanced Very---High Resolution Radiometer (NOAA Sensor,
AVHRR/3 on NOAA---K,L,M,N is to be renamed in VIRSR for
NOAA---O,P,Q)
A contraction of the terms aviation and electronics. An avionics
system is being used on aircraft and spacecraft --- comprising communications, navigation and attitude control (the latter in the case of
spacecraft).
Archivage Validation and Interprtation des donnes des Satellites
Ocanographiques [Archiving, Validation and Interpretation of Satellites oceanographic data (CNES data center for GEOSAT, Topex/Poseidon, ERS---1/2, ENVISAT, Jason---1, etc.)]
Airborne Warning and Control System. A far---field radar surveillance
system developed by Westinghouse Corp. The radars antenna is a passive phased array used for the monitor control in elevation. AWACS operates in S---band and is able to detect low---flying targets up to distances of 370 km --- from cruising altitudes of 10 km. AWACS is a product of the Cold War (mounted on top of a Boeing 707); the first AWACS
system was flown in March 1977.
Automated Wafer Cartridge System (Shuttle payload)
3367
AWG . . . . . . . . . . American Wire Gauge (the higher the number the thinner the wire)
AWG . . . . . . . . . . Arrayed Waveguide Grating (a plane optical filter, a wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer used in DWDM systems, it belongs into the family
of high performance optical routing devices)
AWI . . . . . . . . . . . Alfred Wegener Institut for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven
(since 1980) and Potsdam since 1992 (Germany)
AWIPS . . . . . . . . . Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (of NWS, NOAA)
AWJ . . . . . . . . . . . Abrasive Water Jet (a surface preparation technique used for telescope
mirrors, etc.)
AWS . . . . . . . . . . . Automated Weather Station
AX.25 . . . . . . . . . . Amateur X.25 radio communication protocol (a modified version of
the commercial communication X.25 protocol standard), developed in
the early 1980s.
AXAF . . . . . . . . . Advanced X---ray Astrophysics Facility, a NASA satellite mission in a
high elliptical Earth orbit, deployed by Shuttle STS---93; in the spring of
1999 AXAF has been renamed to Chandra X---ray Observatory in
honor of the late India---American Nobel Laureate Subrahmanyan
Chandrasekhar
AZBS . . . . . . . . . . Avionik Zentrum Braunschweig (Germany)
B
BA . . . . . . . . . . . .
BAC . . . . . . . . . . .
BADC . . . . . . . . .
BAE Systems . . .
BAEX . . . . . . . . .
BGAN . . . . . . . . .
BAHC . . . . . . . . .
BALTEX . . . . . . .
BAMS . . . . . . . . .
BAQ . . . . . . . . . . .
BAS . . . . . . . . . . .
BATC . . . . . . . . . .
Baroreflex (Shuttle payload on D2 mission)

Block Adaptive Quantization (a SAR raw data compression method)
British Atmospheric Data Center (at RAL, Chilton, UK)
British Aerospace, Farnborough, Bristol, UK; BAE was formed in 1977
as a nationalized corporation by the merger of British Aircraft Corporation, Hawker Siddeley Aviation, Hawker Siddeley Dynamics and
Scottish Aviation. In 1981 BAE formed as a public limited company
(Plc). In 1999 merger of BAE and GECs Marconi Electronic Systems.
The new company is called BAE Systems. BAE Systems (over 100,000
employes globally) business units as of 2002: Airbus UK, Aircraft Services Group, Avionics, Australia, North America, etc. As a 25% shareholder in Astrium, BAE Systems is also heavily involved in Earth observation on the European scene --- in such programs as ERS, SPOT,
HELIOS, MetOp, Envisat, etc.
Baltic Aerosol Experiment (campaign)
Broadband Global Area Network. BGAN is a combined voice and
broadband data mobile communications service. Service introduction
in 2005 with Inmarsat---4F series to deliver Internet and intranet content and solutions, video on demand, LAN services, e---mail, phone,
etc.)
Biospheric Aspects of the Hydrological Cycle (IGBP core project since
1994)
Baltic Sea Experiment (campaign)
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (a periodical)
Block Adaptive Quantization, a compression technique most suitable
(and a de---facto standard) for raw SAR data compression. Also:
FD---BAQ or FDBAQ (Flexible Dynamic Block Adaptive Quantization).
British Antarctic Survey (Cambridge, UK)
Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation (Aerospace Systems Division in Boulder, CO, and Telecommunication Products Division in
Broomfield, CO) formerly: Ball Brothers Research Corporation, since
1956, [manufacturer of satellites such as: Seasat, SIR---C, COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer), CGRO (Compton Gamma Ray Observatory), ERBS, CRRES, GFO---1; and builder of instruments: CZCS,
GHRS (Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph), STIS (Space Tele-
3368
BASE . . . . . . . . . .
BATERISTA . . .
BATGE . . . . . . . .
BATS . . . . . . . . . .
BB . . . . . . . . . . . .
BBM . . . . . . . . . .
BBXRT . . . . . . . .
BCP . . . . . . . . . . .
BCR . . . . . . . . . . .
BCRS . . . . . . . . . .
BCSC . . . . . . . . . .
BDPU . . . . . . . . .
BDS . . . . . . . . . . .
BEC . . . . . . . . . . .
BEP . . . . . . . . . . .
BER . . . . . . . . . . .
BEST . . . . . . . . . .
BGI . . . . . . . . . . .
BGR . . . . . . . . . .
BIB . . . . . . . . . . . .
BIBEX . . . . . . . . .
BIC . . . . . . . . . . .
BIC/TCP . . . . . . .
BIMDA . . . . . . . .
BiCMOS . . . . . . .
BIL . . . . . . . . . . . .
BILTEN . . . . . . . .
BIO3D . . . . . . . . .
BIP . . . . . . . . . . . .
BIPM . . . . . . . . . .
BIPVs . . . . . . . . .
BIRA . . . . . . . . . .
BISSAT . . . . . . . .
BJT . . . . . . . . . . .

scope Imaging Spectrograph), and NICMOS (Near---Infrared Camera
and Multi---Object Spectrometer), all on HST, etc.]
Beaufort and Arctic Storm Experiment (campaign)
Biosphere---Atmosphere Transfer and Ecological Research, In situ
Studies in Amazonia (campaign)
Biosphere---Atmosphere Trace Gas Exchange in the Tropics (IGBP/
IGAC campaign)
Bermuda Atlantic Time---Series Study (campaign)
Biolabor (Shuttle D2 mission)
Breadboard Model
Broad Band X---Ray Telescope (part of ASTRO---1 observatory,
Shuttle)
Ball (or BATC) Commercial Platform (BCP 2000 series bus, BCP 4000
series, BCP 5000, etc.)
Battery Charge Regulator
Netherlands Remote Sensing Board (Delft, The Netherlands)
Boeing Commercial Space Co. (a subsidiary of the Boeing Co, chartered to commercialize space technologies)
Bubble, Drop and Particle Unit (Shuttle experiment)
Bioreactor Demonstration System (Shuttle payload)
Boise---Einstein Condensation
Beamed Energy Propulsion
Bit Error Rate (in data transmission systems)
Bilan Energtique du Systme Tropical (Tropical System Energy Budget), a proposed CNES mission
Bureau Gravimtrique International (Paris, France)
Bundesanstalt fr Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (Hannover, Germany)
Blocked Impurity Band (detector type)
Biomass Burning Experiment (program of IGBP/IGAC)
Business Incubation Centre (of ESA/ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands)
Binary Increase Congestion/Transmission Control Protocol (as of
2004, a newly dveloped high---volume Internet Protocol at North Carolina State University)
Bioserve/Instrumentation Technology Associates Materials Dispersion Apparatus (Shuttle payload)
Bipolar Complementary Metal---Oxide Semiconductor
Band Interleaved by Line (image organization)
TUBITAK---METU BILTEN --- --- BILTEN is the acronym for Information Technologies and Electronics Research Institute --- BILTEN is
affiliated with TUBITAK (also spelling of TBITAK) --- --- TUBITAK
is the acronym for The Scientific and Technical Council of Turkey a
non---profit governmental organization of Turkey, located on the campus of the Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey
Biochemistry of 3---D Tissue Engineering (Shuttle Payload)
Band Interleaved by Pixel (image organization)
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (Paris, France) --- International Bureau of Weights and Measures
Building---Integrated Photovoltaics (in 2009, this refers to flexible
rooftop solar panels)
Belgisch Instituut voor Ruimte Aeronomie (Brussels, Belgian Institute
of Space Aeronomy)
Bistatic SAR Satellite (a proposed minisatellite mission of ASI)
Bipolar Junction Transistor (a three---terminal electronic device constructed of doped semiconductor material and may be used in amplifying or switching applications)
3369
BLAST . . . . . . . . Battlefield Laser Acquisition Sensor Test (Shuttle experiment)

BLM . . . . . . . . . . Bureau of Land Management (USA)
Blog . . . . . . . . . . . A blog (a contraction of the term weblog) is a type of website, usually
maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.
BMBF . . . . . . . . . Bundesministerium fr Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und
Technologie (German Ministry of Education, Science, Research and
Technology, the successor to BMFT, since 1994)
BMDO . . . . . . . . . Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, since 1993 [US, Division within
DoD, formerly known as SDIO (Strategic Defense Initiative Organization)]. In 2002, BMDO was renamed to MDA (Missile Defense
Agency)
BMFT . . . . . . . . . Bundesministerium fr Forschung und Technologie (German Ministry
of Research and Technology, prior to 1994)
BMO . . . . . . . . . . British Meteorological Office (same as UKMO, HQs in Bracknell, Remote Sensing Instrumentation branch in Farnborough)
BMRC . . . . . . . . . Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre (Melbourne, Australia)
BMV . . . . . . . . . . Bundesministerium fr Verkehr (German Ministry of Transportation)
BMVg . . . . . . . . . Bundesministerium fr Verteidigung (German Ministry of Defense)
BNL . . . . . . . . . . . Brookhaven National Laboratory (Upton, NY, USA)
BNSC . . . . . . . . . . British National Space Centre (London, UK) since 1985. BNSC is in effect a partnership between 10 government departments and research
councils --- it is Britains Space Agency.
BNTS---1 . . . . . . . Beidou Navigation Test Satellite---1 (first augmentation system GEO
satellite of China, launch Oct. 2000)
BOC . . . . . . . . . . . Binary Offset Carrier (modulation technique of Galileo, GPS)
CBOC (Composite BOC)
MBOC (Multiplexed BOC)
TMBOC (Time---Multiplexed BOC)
Boeing Co. . . . . . Seattle, WA, USA. A conglomerate (over 200,000 employees) of Boeing + Rockwell International (purchase of Rockwells aerospace and
defense business in Dec. 1996) + McDonnell Douglas Corp. (merger
with Boeing in Aug. 1997). Boeing is also a large manufacturer of telecommunication satellites. In October 2000, The Boeing Company acquired three units within Hughes Electronics Corporation: Hughes
Space and Communications Company, Hughes Electron Dynamics,
and Spectrolab, Inc., in addition to Hughes Electronics interest in
HRL (Hughes Research Laboratory). The four are now part of Boeings newest subsidiary, Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc.
BOREAS . . . . . . Boreal Ecosystem---Atmosphere Study (campaign)
BOST . . . . . . . . . . Belgian Office of Science and Technology
BP . . . . . . . . . . . . Bundle Protocol. The BP implements the DTN (Delay Tolerant Networking) architecture. The key capabilities of the bundle protocols include custody---based reliability, ability to cope with intermittent connectivity, ability to take advantage of scheduled and opportunistic connectivity, and late binding of names to addresses.
BPDF . . . . . . . . . . Bidirectional Polarization Distribution Function
BPOT . . . . . . . . . . Bioluminescence Potential
BPSK . . . . . . . . . . Bi---Phase Shift Keying (modulation technique)
BRDF . . . . . . . . . Bidirectional Reflectance and Distribution Function
BREMSAT . . . . . University of Bremen Satellite (Shuttle payload)
BRIC . . . . . . . . . . Biological Research in Canister (Shuttle experiment)
BrO . . . . . . . . . . . Bromine monoxide
BSH . . . . . . . . . . . Bundesamt fr Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie (Hamburg, Germany)
BSI . . . . . . . . . . . . British Standards Institution
BSIS . . . . . . . . . . . Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems (Seal Beach, CA)
BSPO . . . . . . . . . . Belgian Science Policy Office
3370
BSRN . . . . . . . . . Baseline Surface Radiation Network (WCRP/GEWEX)

BSS . . . . . . . . . . . Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc. El Segundo, CA (since Oct. 2000)
BST . . . . . . . . . . . Barium, Strontium and Titanium (BST is a ceramic material consisting
of barium, strontium and titanium salts. Because ferroelectrics retain
their electric polarization after application and removal of an electric
field, their polarization depends on temperature. The IR detector
technology of BST is based on an uncooled ferroelectric BST array.
BSTC . . . . . . . . . . Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (Shuttle)
BUFR . . . . . . . . . BUFR is an acronym for Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data. BUFR is a WMO (World Meteorological
Organization) standard binary code for the exchange and storage of data.
BWB . . . . . . . . . . Bundesamt fr Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (German Office of Defense Technology and Procurement), Koblenz
C
C/A . . . . . . . . . . . .
CAA . . . . . . . . . . .
CAAC . . . . . . . . .
CAAO . . . . . . . . .
CAFE . . . . . . . . .
CALIPSO . . . . . .
CAM . . . . . . . . . .
CAMAREX . . . .
CAMEX . . . . . . .
CAN . . . . . . . . . . .
CANDOS . . . . . .
CANEUS . . . . . .
CANEX . . . . . . . .
CANSOC . . . . . .
CAO . . . . . . . . . .
CAPE . . . . . . . . .
CAPL . . . . . . . . . .
CARIBIC . . . . . .
CART . . . . . . . . .
CAPTEX . . . . . . .
CAS . . . . . . . . . . .
CAS/CSSAR . . . .
CAS/IRSA . . . . . .
CAS/SITP . . . . . .
CASA . . . . . . . . . .
Coarse Acquisition (a GPS and GLONASS code)

Comtech AeroAstro Inc., Ashburn, VA, USA
Civil Aviation Association of China
Center for Astronomical Adaptive Optics (at the University of Arizona
in Tucson, AZ)
Central Australian Fronts Experiment (campaign)
Cloud---Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations
(a NASA/CNES mission, new name as of the end of 2001), alias PICASSO---CENA, alias ESSP---3
Centre dAviation Mtorologique (France)
Carbon in the Amazon River Experiment (campaign)
Convection and Atmospheric Moisture Experiment (airborne campaign conducted at NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island,VA)
Controller Area Network (used in embedded systems)
Communications and Network Demonstrations on Shuttle (Hitchhiker
payload on STS---107)
Canada---Europe---United States Organization for Aerospace Applications
Canadian Experiments (Shuttle payload)
Canadian Satellite Operations Center (in St---Hubert, Canada)
Central Aerological Observatory (Moscow)
Convection and Precipitation Electrification Experiment (campaign)
Capillary Pumped Loop (Shuttle experiment of Hitchhiker payload,
see also CPL)
Civil Aircraft for Remote---Sensing and In---Situ---Measurements in
Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere Based on the Instrumentation
Container Concept (P.41.3)
Cloud and Radiation Testbed [field measurement component of the
DOE ARM program; the three CART sites are: SGP (Southern Great
Plains) near Billings in northern Oklahoma, TWP (Tropical Western
Pacific on Manus Island, Papua, New Guinea), and NSA (North Slope
of Alaska)]
Cross---Appalachian Tracer Experiment (campaign)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing, China, since 1949)
CAS/Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Beijing, China,
since 1987
CAS/Institute for Remote Sensing Applications, Beijing, China
CAS/Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Shanghai, China
Construcciones Aeronauticas S.A. (Madrid, Spain). In July 1999 CASA
merged with DASA (DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG)
3371
CASC (CASTC) . China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation (Beijing, since
1993, also referred to as CAC). CASC, as a large state---owned enterprise, exerts primary control over the national space program on a
day---to---day basis (handling of internal matters). CASC specializes in
developing, building and suppling launch vehicles, satellites, various
types of strategic and tactical missiles as well as satellite ground application systems and providing commercial launch services.
Over 130 Chinese organizations are subordinate to CASC, including
five large academies [CALT (Chinese Academy of Launch---Vehicle
Technology), CAST (Chinese Academy of Space Technology), SAST
(Shanghai Academy of Space---Flight Technology), CASET (Chinese
Academy of Space Electronic Technology), and the Academy of Space
Chemical Propulsion Technology]. The Dongfanghong Satellite Company of Beijing is also part of CASC.
CASI . . . . . . . . . . Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute
CASP . . . . . . . . . . Canadian Atlantic Storms Program (campaign)
CAST . . . . . . . . . . Center for Aerospace Technology (Weber State University, Ogden,
Utah)
CAST . . . . . . . . . . Chinese Academy of Space Technology (Beijing, China, since 1968).
CAST has responsibility for the design and manufacture of most Chinese satellites --- and operates a number of institutions (12) and factories to meet satellite development and testing requirements. CAST employs more than 6000 technicians (2000 with higher degrees). --- Meteorological satellite instruments are being build by SITP (Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics).
CATSAT . . . . . . . Cooperative Astrophysical and Technology Satellite (part of STEDI
program, see N.26.3)
CBE . . . . . . . . . . . Chemical Beam Epitaxy (a growth technique)
CBE . . . . . . . . . . . Current Best Estimate (for instance for a spacecraft mass in planning)
CBERS . . . . . . . . China/Brazil --- Earth Resources Satellite, D.9. The satellite is also referred to as Ziyuan---1, meaning resource in Chinese.
CBLAST . . . . . . . Coupled Boundary Layers Air---Sea Transfer [a NOAA, ONR, etc. research project of mapping mesoscale and sub---mesoscale ocean wind
fields and to characterize MABL (Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer)]
CCAFS . . . . . . . . Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Cape Canaveral, FL, USA)
CCD . . . . . . . . . . . Charge---Coupled Device (solid---state detector type)
CCDev . . . . . . . . . Commercial Crew Development (program of NASA to stimulate development of privately operated crew vehicles to LEO)
CCE . . . . . . . . . . . Charge Composition Explorer (S/C of AMPTE mission, K.4.3)
CCETT . . . . . . . . Centre Commun d Etudes de Tlcommunications et de Tldiffusion
(Rennes, France)
CCIR . . . . . . . . . . Comit Consultatif International des Radiocommunications (International Consultative Committee for Radio Communications , an organ
of ITU). As of 1990 CCIR was renamed to ITU---R.
CCIT . . . . . . . . . . Coherent Communications, Imaging and Targeting (a DARPA sponsored program for secure communications)
CCITT . . . . . . . . . Comit Consultatif International Tlphonique et Tlgraphique (one
of three bodies for the definition of OSI. CCITT is a permanent organ
of ITU). As of 1990 CCITT was renamed to ITU---T (ITU---Telecommunications)
CCLRC . . . . . . . . Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils [UKs
strategic agency for large---scale research facilities, since 1995, RAL
(Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) is part of CCLRC]
CCM---A . . . . . . . Cell Culture Module---A (Shuttle experiment)
CCN . . . . . . . . . . . Cloud Condensation Nuclei
CCPD . . . . . . . . . Charge---Coupled Photo Detector
3372
CCRS . . . . . . . . . . Canada Center for Remote Sensing (Ottawa, Ontario; established in

1972, part of Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Canada)
CCSDS . . . . . . . . Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS was formed
in 1982 by the major space agencies of the world to provide a forum for
discussion of common problems in the development and operation of
space data systems)
CD . . . . . . . . . . . . Compact Disk (introduction in 1982)
CDA . . . . . . . . . . . Command and Data Acquisition (NOAA Antenna, downlink concept)
CDDIS . . . . . . . . Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (database at GSFC)
CDGPS . . . . . . . . Carrier---phase Differential GPS (a relative position measurement
technique)
CDMA . . . . . . . . . Code Division Multiple Access (a communication access scheme)
CDMU . . . . . . . . Command and Data Management Unit
CDOM . . . . . . . . Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (in ocean color measurements)
CDP . . . . . . . . . . . Crustal Dynamics Program (NASA)
CdZnTe . . . . . . . . Cadmium Zinc Telluride (a detector material --- also referred to as
CZT)
CDR . . . . . . . . . . Critical Design Review
CD---ROM . . . . . Compact Disk --- Read Only Memory (storage capacity up to 650
MByte)
CD---R/W . . . . . . Compact Disk --- Read/Write
CDTI . . . . . . . . . . Center for Technological and Industrial Development (Centro para el
Desarrollo Tecnolgico e Industrial), Madrid, Spain [since 1977, a government space policy coordination center --- and a PPP (Public, Private
Partnership) organization reporting to the Spanish Ministry of Science
and Innovation]
CDWL . . . . . . . . . Coherent---detection Doppler Wind Lidar
CEA . . . . . . . . . . . Commissariat lEnergie Atomique
CEAREX . . . . . . Coordinated Eastern Arctic Experiment (campaign)
CEBAS . . . . . . . . Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (Shuttle payload)
CE90 . . . . . . . . . . Circular Error of 90% --- a measure of positional accuracy of observed
imagery. The location error is defined in relation to a confidence level
(i.e., range of error) of 90% (CE90) meaning that the objects location is represented on the image, within the stated accuracy, 90% of the
time. The CE90 accuracy scale can be related to RMSE (Root Mean
Square Error) as well as the U.S. NMAS (National Map Accuracy
Standards).
CEC . . . . . . . . . . . Commission of the European Communities (Brussels, Belgium)
CEES . . . . . . . . . . Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences (US interagency
committee)
CEMAGREF . . . Centre dEtude du Machinisme Agricole du Genie Rural et des Eaux et
Forests (France)
CentrAl . . . . . . . . Central Reinforced Aluminum (as of 2007, a new fatigue resistant material developed by the Delft University of Technology, Delft, The
Netherlands with partners GTM Advanced Structures, The Hague, and
Alcoa, USA). The CentrAl concept comprises a central layer of fiber
metal laminate (FML), sandwiched between one or more thick layers
of high---quality aluminum.
CEOS . . . . . . . . . Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (since 1984). CEOS coordinates internationally all civil spaceborne missions designed to observe and study our planet. AS of 2002, CEOS comprises 39 space agencies and other national and international organizations.
CEP . . . . . . . . . . . Circular Error Probable (in S/C or instrument pointing or in a navigation vector --- it is a measure in a systems precision to provide the location or position knowledge)
CEPEX . . . . . . . . Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment (campaign)
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CEPT . . . . . . . . . . European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (Montreux, Switzerland, since 1959). CEPT comprises 43 European countries and is charged with representing Europe on such items
as spectrum issues, etc.
CERFACS . . . . . . Centre Europen de Recherche et de Formation Avance en Calcul
Scientifique (Toulouse, France, since 1987) European Center for Research and Advanced Training in Scientific Computation
CERGA . . . . . . . . Centre dEtudes et des Recherches en Geodynamique et Astrometrie
(in Grasse, France)
CERISE . . . . . . . Caracterisation de lEnvironnement Radioelectrique par un Instrument Spatial Embarque, (French S/C), D.62.11
CERN . . . . . . . . . Centre Europen de Recherche Nuclaire (European Center for Nuclear Research), Geneva, Switzerland. CERN, founded in 1954, was
born out of a need to collaborate: no single European country could afford the facilities that were needed in the field of nuclear research.
CERN is an international organization with 20 member states, whose
business is scientific research into the fundamental laws of matter.
CES . . . . . . . . . . . Committee on Earth Studies --- a standing committee of the Space
Studies Board within the National Research Council (NRC), USA
CESAR . . . . . . . . Cooperacion Espaola---Argentina (satellite of INTA and CONAE)
CESBIO . . . . . . . Centre dEtudes Spatiales de la Biosphre (Toulouse, France)
CESIC
. . . . . . . Carbon---fiber reinforced Silicon Carbide, a product of ECM Inge-
CESR . . . . . . . . . .
CETA . . . . . . . . . .
CETP . . . . . . . . . .
CEU . . . . . . . . . . .
CEV . . . . . . . . . . .
CEV . . . . . . . . . . .
CfAO . . . . . . . . . .
CFAR . . . . . . . . .
CFCs . . . . . . . . . .
CFC---11 . . . . . . .
CFC---12 . . . . . . .
CFDP . . . . . . . . . .
nieur---Unternehmen, Munich, Germany. CESIC (also written as Cesic) is a ceramic matrix composite material (made of SiC , Si and C) of
high stiffness, high thermal conductivity, and low thermal expansion
from room to cryogenic temperatures. It is an ideal material to produce
lightweight, stable structures and a range of high---precision optomechanical components, such as lightweight mirrors, telescope, instrument structures, and optical benches for both land--- and space---based
applications.
Centre dEtude Spatiale des Rayonnements (Toulouse, France, part of
CNRS)
Crew and Equipment Translation Aids (Shuttle experiment)
Centre detude des Environnements Terrestre et Planetaire (Velizy/
Saint---Maur, France, CNRS Lab)
Commission of the European Union (successor of previous CEC)
Centre dEssais en Vol (French Test Flight Center)
Crew Exploration Vehicle (NASA). CEV is a new transport vehicle development which will succeed the Space Shuttle as NASAs spacecraft
for human space exploration (in the time frame 2010 and beyond).
Note: As of July 2006, the crew launch vehicle was renamed to Ares I,
and the cargo launcher was renamed to Ares V. The Ares I will carry just
the crew exploration vehicle and astronauts into orbit, while the much
larger Ares V will carry the cargo and equipment. Once in orbit, the
crew exploration vehicle will link up with the cargo vehicle to travel on
to the moon. The I and V designations of Ares pay homage to the
Apollo programs Saturn I and Saturn V rockets, the first large US
space vehicles conceived and developed specifically for human spaceflight.
Center for Adaptive Optics, UCSC (University of California at Santa
Cruz)
Constant False Alarm Rate (radar technique)
Chlorofluorocarbons
CCl3F, trichlorofluoromethane, Freon---11
CCl2F2, dichlorodifluoromethane, Freon---12
CCSDS File Delivery Protocol (a standardized file transfer protocol for
space missions)
3374
CFES . . . . . . . . . .
CFRP . . . . . . . . . .
CGBA . . . . . . . . .
CGWIC . . . . . . . .
CGM . . . . . . . . . .
CGMS . . . . . . . . .
CGP . . . . . . . . . . .
CGU . . . . . . . . . .
CGWIC . . . . . . . .
CH3Cl . . . . . . . . .
CH4 . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAMP . . . . . . .
CHAMP . . . . . . .
CHASE . . . . . . . .
CHEOPS . . . . . . .
CHIRP . . . . . . . .
CHORUS . . . . . .
CHROMEX . . . .
CHRPT . . . . . . . .
CIB . . . . . . . . . . .
CICERO . . . . . . .
CID . . . . . . . . . . .
CID . . . . . . . . . . .
CIDESON . . . . . .
CIEMAT . . . . . . .
CIESIN . . . . . . . .
CIGNET . . . . . . .
CIGS . . . . . . . . . .
CIMS . . . . . . . . . .
CIMSS . . . . . . . . .
CINDE . . . . . . . .
CINDIS . . . . . . . .

Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (Shuttle payload)
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (also: CFRM for Material)
Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (Shuttle experiment)
China Great Wall Industry Corporation (Beijing, since 1980), provider
of Long March launch services to the world market
Camera Geometric Model
Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites [since 1972; active
CGMS members are: EUMETSAT (Europe), JMA (Japan), China,
Russia, NOAA (USA), WMO]. The global network of meteorological
satellites constitutes a major portion of the space---based GOS (Global
Observing System) of WWW (World Weather Watch).
Shuttle payload consisting of: [CSE (Cryo System Experiment), GP
(Glow Phenomenon)]
Canadian Geophysical Union
China Great Wall Industry Corporation (launch service provider).
CGWIC was established in 1980 and restructured in 2004.
Methyl chloride
Methane
Challenging Minisatellite Payload
Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program (Shuttle experiment)
Coronal Helium Abundance Spacelab Experiment (Spacelab---2)
CHEmistry of Ozone in the Polar Stratosphere (airborne campaign)
Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload --- a technology demonstration
instrument of DoD (USAF/SMC) developed at SAIC, launch in 2010
on a SES AGS (Americom Government Services) spacecraft (SES---2)
into GEO
Chemistry of Ozone Reduction in the Lower Stratosphere (first Strato---2C mission)
Chromosomes and Plant Cell Division (Shuttle experiment)
Chinese High Resolution Picture Transmission (downlink mode)
Cosmic Infrared Background
Community Initiative for Continuing Earth Radio Occultation (a future constellation in planning as of 2007)
Charge---Injection Device (a charge---transfer detection technology)
Collision---Induced Dissociation (a measurement technique in the atmospheric sciences for studies of ion---molecule reactions, etc.)
Centro de Investigacion y Desarrollo de los Recursos Naturales de Sonora (Hermosillo, Mexico)
Centro de Investigaciones Energticas y Medioambientales (Environmental and Energetic Research Center), Spain
Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (a
private nonprofit corporation in Ann Arbor, Michigan (University
Center). CIESIN serves scientific, policy---making, educational, and
public access data and information needs. CIESIN developed and is operating SEDAC (Socio---Economic Data and Applications Center) as
part of one of nine data centers of EOSDIS.
Cooperative International GPS Network of IAG (International
Association of Geodesy), H.5.3.6
Cu (In,Ge) Se2 type solar cells or Copper Indium Germanium Diselenide (solar arrays based on thin film technology)
Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry (a measurement technique
frequently used for atmospheric measurements)
Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (University
of Wisconsin, Madison)
Convection Initiation and Downburst Experiment (campaign)
Cold Interferometric Nulling Demonstration In Space (NASA mission)
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CIR . . . . . . . . . . . Color Infrared (video images)

CIRA . . . . . . . . . . Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali (Italian Aerospace Research
Center) since 1984, Capua, Italy
CIRAC . . . . . . . . Canadian Institute for Research in Atmospheric Chemistry
CIRES . . . . . . . . . Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (University of Boulder, and at NOAA, Boulder, CO, USA)
CIRRIS . . . . . . . . Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle (DoD
Shuttle payload)
CIS . . . . . . . . . . . . Commonwealth of Independent States (part of former Soviet Union or
USSR)
CIS . . . . . . . . . . . . Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CuInSe2, integrated thin---film
solar cell technology)
CIT . . . . . . . . . . . . California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA)
CIT . . . . . . . . . . . . Computerized Ionospheric Tomography
CITE . . . . . . . . . . Chemical Instrumentation Test and Evaluation (campaign)
CIV . . . . . . . . . . . Critical Ionization Velocity (Shuttle experiment)
CIVEX . . . . . . . . Cloud Instruments Validation Experiment (campaign)
CLARA . . . . . . . . Cloud And Radiation (campaign)
CLASS . . . . . . . . . Cross---chain LORAN Atmospheric Sounding System (NCAR
ground---based sounding stations)
CLC . . . . . . . . . . . CubeSat Launch Company, of Boulder, CO (since 2001, provider of
CubeSat launch arrangements, etc.)
CLEOPATRA . . . Cloud Experiment Oberpfaffenhofen and Transports (campaign)
CLIVAR . . . . . . . Climate Variability and Predictability (WCRP campaign program)
CLIVAR---ACC . CLIVAR --- Anthropogenic Climate Change
CLIVAR---DecCenCLIVAR --- Decadal---to---Centennial time---scales
CLIVAR---GOALS
CLIVAR --- Global Ocean---Atmosphere---Land System
CLOUDS . . . . . . Cloud and Radiation Monitoring Satellite (a proposed ESA mission as
of 2001, A.9)
CLOUDS . . . . . . Cloud Logic to Optimize Use of Defense Systems (Shuttle payload)
CLRC . . . . . . . . . Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (UK)
CLUSTER . . . . . ESA/NASA Solar---Terrestrial Mission (K.7)
ClO . . . . . . . . . . . Chlorine monoxide
ClONO2 . . . . . . . (ClONO3) Chlorine nitrate
CLS . . . . . . . . . . . Collecte Localisation Satellites (a CNES subsidiary with HQ in Toulouse, France) CLS was set up in 1986 to process the data of the Argos
(data collection) system and deliver it to the end user. In this context: A
second CNES subsidiary, Service Argos Inc. of Largo, MD (USA) provides the same service for US customers.
C---MAN . . . . . . . Coastal---Marine Automated Network [NOAA/NWS/NDBC moored
buoy network (over 100 buoys) with hourly reports via GOES DCS]
CMA . . . . . . . . . . China Meteorological Administration, Beijing (government agency)
CMA/NSMC . . . . CMA/National Satellite Meteorological Center, Beijing, China
CMB . . . . . . . . . . Cosmic Microwave Background
CMC . . . . . . . . . . Canadian Meteorological Centre
CMC . . . . . . . . . . Ceramic Matrix Composite (material)
CME . . . . . . . . . . Coronal Mass Ejection (of the sun)
CMESS---95 . . . . Cooperative Multiscale Experiment Spring/Summer 1995 (campaign)
CMG . . . . . . . . . . Control Moment Gyroscope
CMIX . . . . . . . . . Commercial Materials Dispersion Apparatus Instrument Technology
Associates Experiments (Shuttle experiment)
CMOS . . . . . . . . . Complementary Metal---Oxide Semiconductor (solid---state microprocessor technology)
CMS . . . . . . . . . . . Centre de Mtorologie Spatiale (Lannion, France)
CMSE . . . . . . . . . Commercialization of Military and Space Electronics (conferences)
CMT . . . . . . . . . . CdHgTe (Cadmium Mercury Telluride --- a photodiode detector type
for detection in the spectral range of 3.5 --- 11 m). Detection of very
3376
CN . . . . . . . . . . . .
CNCR . . . . . . . . .
CNES . . . . . . . . . .
CNES/AVISO . . .
CNET . . . . . . . . .
CNIE . . . . . . . . . .
CNR . . . . . . . . . . .
CNR/DCAS . . . .
CNR/FISBAT . . .
CNR/IFA . . . . . . .
CNR/IFAM . . . . .
CNR/IFCTR . . . .
CNR/IFSI . . . . . .
CNR/IROE . . . . .
CNR/IMAA . . . .
CNR/IMGA . . . .
CNR/IMM . . . . .
CNR/ISAC . . . . .
CNR/ITRE . . . . .
CNR/LARA . . . .
CNR/PSN . . . . . .
CNRM . . . . . . . . .
CNRS . . . . . . . . .

long wavelengths ( m) using CdHgTe implies very small band
gaps.
Condensation Nuclei
Characterization of Neurospora Circadian Rhythms (Shuttle payload)
Centre National DEtudes Spatiales (Space Agency of France, Paris,
Toulouse, Evry, and Kourou, since 1962). Employment (1999) of 2500
scientists and engineers; of these, about 1700 employees are in Toulouse. CNES/HQ is in Paris with about 250 employees.
CNES/Archiving, Validation and Interpretation of Satellites oceanographic data (CNES data center for GEOSAT, Topex/Poseidon,
ERS---1/2, ENVISAT, Jason---1, etc.)
Centre National dEtudes des Tlcommunications (France Tlcom)
Comision Nacional de Investigaciones Espaciales (former Space
Agency of Argentina)
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (National Research Counsel of Italy, Rome). CNR is a government agency which promotes and coordinates institutional research in the interests of Italy. CNR was founded
in 1923 and reorganized in 1945 and 1979. CNR funds/maintains 157
institutes, 117 study centers, and 16 research groups throughout Italy.
Research is supported in the natural and human sciences. In 1980 PSN
(National Space Program) was created within CNR. Some space projects supported by CNR are: Italsat, TSS (Tethered Satellite System),
Iris (propulsion system for the transfer of useful loads from the Space
Shuttles hold to a higher orbit), Lageos---2, and Sax (X---ray astronomy). CNR maintains a number of cooperations with various space
agencies. In 1988 ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) was founded which
succeeded CNR in relations concerning matters of planning and administrative nature. Nevertheless, CNR continues to follow specific aspects of research within the context of its own bodies.
CNR / Direzione Centrale Attivit Scientifiche (Rome, Italy)
CNR / Istituto per lo Studio dei Fenomeni Fisici e Chimici della Bassa
ed Alta Atmosfera (Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Lower and
Upper Atmosphere, Bologna, Italy)
CNR / Istituto di Fisica dell Asmosfera (Institute for the Physics of the
Atmosphere, Frascati, Italy)
CNR / Istituto di Fisica Atomica e Molecolare (Pisa, Italy)
CNR / Istituto die Fisica Cosmica e Teccnologie Relative (Milano)
CNR / Istituto de Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario (Frascati, Italy)
CNR / Istituto di Richerca sulle Onde Elettromagnetiche (Florence,
Italy)
CNR / Istituto di Metodologie per lAnalisi Ambientale (Potenza, Italy,
Basilicata Region)
CNR / Istituto per lo Studio delle Metodologie Geofisiche Ambientali
(Bologna, Italy)
CNR / Istituto per la Microelettronica e i Microsistemi (Bologna, Italy)
CNR / Istituto Scienze dellAtmosfera e del Clima (Bologna, Rome,
etc., Italy), CNR/Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
CNR / Istituto di Technologie e Studie della Radiazioni Extraterrestri
(Bologna, Italy)
CNR / Laboratorio Aereo per Ricerche Ambientali (Laboratory for
Airborne Environmental Studies, Rome, Italy)
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche / Piano Spaziale Nationale (Italy)
Centre National des Recherches Meteorologiques (France)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Research Center of France). CNRS is a government---funded basic---research organization which employs about 26,000 people, including more than
11,000 research scientists. The agency maintains facilities throughout
France. There are over 1500 CNRS laboratories active in all fields of
CNRS/CESR . . .
CNRS/CERGA .
CNRS/CETP . . . .
CNRS/IAS . . . . . .
CNRS/INSU . . . .
CNRS/LAS . . . . .
CNRS/LEGI . . . .
CNRS/LMD . . . .
CNRS/LOA . . . . .
CNRS/LPCA . . .
CNRS/LPCE . . . .
CNRS/SA . . . . . .
CNRSC . . . . . . . .
CNSA . . . . . . . . .
CNS/ATM . . . . . .
CNSS . . . . . . . . . .
CNT . . . . . . . . . . .
CNTS . . . . . . . . . .
CO . . . . . . . . . . . .
CO2 . . . . . . . . . . .
COARE . . . . . . . .
COAST . . . . . . . .
CODAG . . . . . . .
CODAR . . . . . . .
CODAR . . . . . . .
CODE . . . . . . . . .
COF . . . . . . . . . . .
COFDM . . . . . . .
COHMEX . . . . .
COLLIDE . . . . . .
COMETS . . . . . .
CONAE . . . . . . .
3377
science. Most CNRS laboratories rely for their research on partnerships with French universities. There are also many CNRS cooperations and exchanges with other research organizations on a national
and international level as well as with French industry. Only a few facilities (dealing mostly with the sciences of the universe, such as: oceanography, geophysics, climatology, hydrology, volcanology, seismology, astronomy, astrophysics, etc.) are listed below.
CNRS/Centre dEtude Spatiale des Rayonnements (Toulouse, France)
CNRS/Centre dEtudes et des Recherches en Geodynamique et Astrometrie (Grasse, France)
CNRS/Centre dEtude des Environnenments Terrestre et Plantaires,
(sites at: Vlizy, Issy---les---Moulineaux, and Saint---Maur des Fosss,
France)
CNRS/Institut dAstrophysique Spatiale (Orsay, France)
CNRS/Institut National des Sciences de lUnivers (Paris, France)
CNRS/Laboratoire dAstronomie Spatiale (Marseille, France)
CNRS/Laboratoire des Ecoulements Gophysiques et Industriels (Laboratory of Geophysical and Industrial Fluid Flows), Grenoble, France
CNRS/Laboratoire de Mtorologie Dynamique (Palaiseau, France)
CNRS/Laboratoire dOptique Atmosphrique (University of Lille,
France)
CNRS/Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de lAtmosphre (University of Strasbourg, France)
CNRS/Laboratoire de Physique et de Chimie de lEnvironnement (Orleans---la---Source, France)
CNRS/Service dAeronomie (Verrires---le---Buisson, France)
China National Remote Sensing Center (since 1981)
China National Space Administration (Beijing, since 1993). The principal role of CNSA is to serve as Chinas policy organization and interface
with other national space agencies.
Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management)
Compass/Beidou Navigation Satellite System (China)
Carbon Nanotube (an emerging display and semiconductor technology
as of 2003)
Centre National des Techniques Spatiales [Arzew(Algiers), Algeria]
Carbon monoxide
Carbon dioxide
Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment (campaign, see
TOGA/COARE)
Coastal Oxidant Assessment for Southeast Texas (campaign)
Cosmic Dust Aggregation (Shuttle payload)
Coastal Ocean Dynamic Application Radar (a ground---based, over--the---horizon radar which reflects off of the ionosphere to measure sea
surface roughness and currents)
Cooperative Object Detection And Ranging (technology)
Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment (campaign)
Columbus Orbital Facility (ESA module on ISS)
Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (a technique used
in DAB)
Cooperative Huntsville Meteorological Experiment (campaign)
Collisions into Dust Experiment (Shuttle payload on STS---90)
Communications and Broadcasting Engineering Test Satellite (prototype data relay satellite of Japan)
Comisin Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, Buenos Aires, Argentina (National Commission on Space Activities, since 1991) --- Space
3378
CONCAP . . . . . .
CONTOUR . . . .
CONUS . . . . . . . .
COPE . . . . . . . . .
COPS---91 . . . . . .
CoReH2O . . . . . .
CORISTA . . . . . .
CORONAS . . . . .
CORPS . . . . . . . .
CORS . . . . . . . . .
COSMIAC . . . . .
COSMIC . . . . . . .
COSMOS . . . . . .
COSMOS . . . . . .
COSPAR . . . . . . .
COSPAS . . . . . . .
COSSA . . . . . . . .
COST . . . . . . . . . .
COTES . . . . . . . .
COTS . . . . . . . . . .

Agency of Argentina. The forerunner agency was CNIE (Comisin Nacional de Investigaciones Espaciales), created in 1960.
Consortium for Materials Development in Space Complex Autonomous Payload (Shuttle experiment)
Comet Nucleus Tour (a NASA Discovery mission)
Continental United States (lower 48 states)
Coastal Ocean Probing Experiment (campaign)
Cooperative Oklahoma Profiler Study---1991 (campaign)
Cold Regions Hydrology High---resolution Observatory (in 2007 a proposed ESA candidate mission in the Earth Explorer program)
Consorzio Di Ricerca Su Sistemi Di Telesensori Avanzati ( Consortium
for Research on Advanced Remote Sensing Systems), Naples, Italy
Complex of Orbital Observations of the Activity of the Sun (Satellite of
the Russian Space Agency, K.8)
Comprehensive Radiance Profile Synthesizer (an Earth radiance model developed in the 1960s, CORPS was used in connection with Earth
horizon sensors of an AOCS)
Continuously Operating Reference Stations [NOAA/NGS (National
Geodetic Survey) network of ground---based GPS stations collecting
continuously GPS data for a number of services]
Configurable Space Microsystems Innovations & Applications Center,
COSMIAC is a congressionally supported space electronics center established at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM.
Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (a Taiwanese/US mission). In Taiwan, the mission is referred to as
FormoSat---3, in USA the mission is known as COSMIC.
The term Cosmos or Kosmos is used in Russia to designate any of a
series of unmanned satellites that were launched starting in 1962 with
Cosmos---1 (the counting in 1988 was up to 1800, in 1993 it is around
2200). The Cosmos satellite series has been used for a wide variety of
purposes, including scientific research, Earth observation, experimental/technological payloads, preoperational meteorological satellites,
navigation satellites, etc. There are also many satellites with military
payloads under the Cosmos designation.
COSMOS is also the worlds most successful two stage space transportation system with liquid propellant rocket engines, which has been
designed and developed by the Russian company PO/KB POLYOT.
First launch in 1964, from 1970---87 there were 371 successful flights of
the Cosmos launcher). This launch system is used for the transportation
of small to medium payloads up to 1400 kg to low earth orbits as well as
for sub---orbital missions and re---entry tests.
Committee on Space Research (of ICSU, since 1958). COSPAR is an
interdisciplinary scientific organization concerned with international
progress in all areas of scientific research carried out with space vehicles, rockets, and balloons.
Space System for the Search of Distressed Vessels (Russias equipment
flown on polar---orbiting S/C). Cospas is a Russian acronym that stands
for Cosmicheskaya Systyema Poiska Aariynyich Sudov.
CSIRO Office of Space Science and Applications (since 1984, Canberra, Australia)
Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research (an EU
program)
Conventional Terrestrial Reference System (an IERS program for the
specifications of positions on or near the Earths surface)5904)
Commercial---Off---The---Shelf (products)
_____________________
5904) See : The International Earth Rotation Service, in The Interdisciplinary Role of Space Geodesy, Springer Verlag, 1989, pp. 229---232
3379
COTS . . . . . . . . . . Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (NASA program)

CPCG . . . . . . . . . Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (Shuttle experiment)
cPCI . . . . . . . . . . . Compact Peripheral Component Interface (a bus --- electrically identical to the PCI specification)
CPDL . . . . . . . . . Complex Programmable Logic Device
CPFSK . . . . . . . . . Continuous Phase Frequency Shift Keying (a modulation techniique)
CPL . . . . . . . . . . . Capillary Pumped Loop Experiment (Shuttle payload series)
CPLD . . . . . . . . . Complex Programmable Logic Device
CPMA . . . . . . . . . Code Position Multiple Access (communication access concept)
CPR . . . . . . . . . . . Cloud Profiling Radar (GEWEX)
CPRA . . . . . . . . . Control of the Reception Pattern multi---element Antenna
CPV . . . . . . . . . . . Common Pressure Vessel (type of battery)
CPV . . . . . . . . . . . Concentrator Photovoltaic (solar cells). CPV systems use a large area
of lenses or mirrors to focus sunlight on a small area of photovoltaic
cells.
CRA . . . . . . . . . . . Centro Ricerche Aerospaziali (University of Rome, Italy)
C---RAM . . . . . . . Chalcogenide---Random Access Memory (a non---volatile memory
technology, originally developed (1980s) by Ovonyx, Inc., Santa Clara,
CA)
CR . . . . . . . . . . . . Cognitive Radio. A CR is an extension of modern Software Defined
Radio. This extension creates new capabilities for users.
CRC . . . . . . . . . . . Communication Research Center (an institute of Industry Canada, located at Shirleys Bay, west of Ottawa)
CRC . . . . . . . . . . . Cooperative Research Centers (an Association of Australia)
CRCSS . . . . . . . . . Cooperative Research Center for Satellite Systems (Canberra, Australia, the new Australian space agency, as of Jan. 1, 1998 --- it is also referred to as simply CRC). CRCSS, under the Cooperative Research
Centers Program of the Commonwealth of Australia, is a union of 12
Australian organizations, including government, university and industry. Some of the participants are: CSIRO, University of South Australia, Queensland University of Technology, University of Newcastle,
University of Technology, Sydney, Auspace Ltd. of Mitchell, ACT
[Note: since 1990, Auspace has been a subsidiary of MMS (Matra Marconi Space) of France]
CREAM . . . . . . . Cosmic Ray Effects and Activation Monitor (Shuttle payload)
CRESDA . . . . . . China Center for Resource Satellite Data and Application (Beijing,
since 1991), operator of CBERS data center
CREST . . . . . . . . Center for Research in Earth and Space Technology (North York, Ontario, Canada). Formerly known as ISTS (Institute of Space and Terrestrial Science)
CRI . . . . . . . . . . . Crown Research Institute (New Zealand)
CRISP . . . . . . . . . Center for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (since 1992, National University of Singapore, Singapore)
CRL . . . . . . . . . . . Communications Research Laboratory, Tokyo, a division of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) of Japan. Note: the former
name of CRL (until 1987) was RRL (Radio Research Laboratories)
CRO . . . . . . . . . . Chemical Release Observation (Shuttle experiment)
CRP . . . . . . . . . . . Cloud Radiation Program
CRPE . . . . . . . . . Centre de Recherches en Physique de lEnvironnement Terrestre et
Planetaire, at the following sites: Vlizy, Issy---les Moulineaux, and
Saint---Maur---des---Fosss, France (Lab was part of CNRS and of
CNET, starting in January 1994 CRPE was reorganized and renamed
CETP, there is no more dependence on CNET)
CRPSM . . . . . . . . Centro di Ricerca Progetto San Marco (San Marco ground receiving
station and processing/archiving facilities located at Malindi, Kenya),
CRPSM is owned and operated by the University of Rome, Italy. The
station is located at 3 S, 40 E.
3380
CRREL . . . . . . . . Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (US Army research facility in Hanover, NH, USA)
CRRES . . . . . . . . Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (A.13)
CRSS . . . . . . . . . . Commercial Remote Sensing System; Note: the S/C was renamed to
IKONOS
CRSS . . . . . . . . . . Canadian Remote Sensing Society (since 1973); CRSS is part of CASI
(Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute)
CRT . . . . . . . . . . . Cathode Ray Tube
CRTS . . . . . . . . . . Centre Royal Teledetection Spatiales, Rabat, Morrocco
CRTS . . . . . . . . . . Collapsible Rib---Tensioned Surface (reflector antennas, such as a deployable membrane reflector type)
CRSR . . . . . . . . . Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research program (a new NASA
program of 2010)
CRV . . . . . . . . . . . Crew Return Vehicle (or X---38 CRV of NASA, used for ISS evacuation
in case of an emergency)
CRYOFD . . . . . . Cryogenic Flexible Diode (Shuttle payload)
CRYOHP . . . . . . Cryogenic Heat Pipe Experiment (Shuttle payload)
CRYOTSU . . . . . Cryogenic Thermal Storage Unit (Shuttle payload)
CRYSYS . . . . . . . Use of the Cryospheric System to Monitor Global Change in Canada
(campaign program)
CSA . . . . . . . . . . . Canadian Space Agency (since 1989; CSA HQs and control center at
Saint---Hubert, Qubec)
CSCE . . . . . . . . . . Commercial Space Center for Engineering (established under contract
with NASA/JSC, located on the Texas A&M University campus; CSCE
supports industry development of palletized commercial payloads on
external platforms on ISS)
CSDL . . . . . . . . . . Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA (nee the
MIT Instrumentation Laboratory)
CSE . . . . . . . . . . . Consortium for Superconducting Electronics (USA) involving Bell
Labs, IBM, MIT, MIT/LL, etc.
CSEM . . . . . . . . . Centre Suisse dElectronique et de Microtechnique (or: Swiss Center
for Electronics and Microtechnology), Neuchatel, Switzerland
CSER . . . . . . . . . . Center for Satellite Engineering Research (University of Surrey, UK,
since 1993 CSER accommodates SSTL)
CSGC . . . . . . . . . Colorado Space Grant Consortium --- a NASA---funded institution
which supports student---designed satellites
CSIC . . . . . . . . . . Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (Spanish Research
Council, Madrid)
C/SiC . . . . . . . . . . Carbon fiber---reinforced/Silicon Carbide [ceramic material for precision applications in optics, power technology (heat exchangers), vehicle
technology (brakes, valves), chemical engineering, etc.]
CSIR . . . . . . . . . . Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa.
CSIR is Africas largest scientific and technological research, development and implementation organization.
CSIRO . . . . . . . . . Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (Canberra, Australia)
CSIST . . . . . . . . . Chung---Shan Institute of Science and Technology --- a leading institution for the research, development, and design of defense technology in
Taiwan (ROC) with HQs in Lungtan, Taoyuan County.
CLS . . . . . . . . . . . Centre Spatial de Lige, Lige, Belgium
CSMA/CD . . . . . Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Detection (commercially
known under Ethernet)
CSMT . . . . . . . . . Center for Space Microelectronics Technology (NASA/JPL facility,
since 1987)
CSOC . . . . . . . . . Consolidated Space Operations Contract (NASA/Lockheed Martin
contract for Shuttle operations, etc.). The objective is to achieve a low--risk, commercially---based space operations program for Shuttle.
3381
CSR . . . . . . . . . . . Centro de Sensores Remote (Italy)

CSSR . . . . . . . . . . Chinese Society of Space Research
CST . . . . . . . . . . . CORE Software Technology, Pasadena, CA [developer of the worlds
first commercial on---line geo---spatial (image, cartographic, & demographic) indexing and distribution system]
CSTG . . . . . . . . . . Commission on International Coordination of Space Techniques for
Geodesy and Geodynamics (since 1979), (Commission VIII of the International Association of Geodesy)
CSU . . . . . . . . . . . Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
CTA . . . . . . . . . . . Canadian Target Assembly (Shuttle payload)
CTA . . . . . . . . . . . Centro Tecnico Aerospacial (Sao Jos dos Campos, S.P., Brazil)
CTA . . . . . . . . . . . CTA Space Systems, McLean, VA, (since 1979) manufacturer of small
satellite systems (Clark, EarlyBird, REX, etc.) and instruments;
CTAST (CTA Space and Telecommunications) is the parent company
of CTA Space Systems. Note: CTA Space Systems was acquired by OSC
of Dulles, VA, in Aug. 1997
CTD . . . . . . . . . . . Conductivity---Temperature---Depth profilers (a buoy type used in a
number of campaigns like NORSEX, TOGA/COARE, etc.)
CTE . . . . . . . . . . . Coefficient of thermal expansion
CTIA . . . . . . . . . . Capacitive Transimpedance Amplifier (detector technology)
CTIS . . . . . . . . . . Computed Tomographic Imaging Spectrometer
CTIV . . . . . . . . . . Processing Center for VEGETATION Imagery (operated by Vito in
Mol, Belgium, VEGETATION is a SPOT---4, 5 instrument
CTP . . . . . . . . . . . Cloud Top Pressure
CUE . . . . . . . . . . . Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment (Shuttle experiment)
CULPRiT . . . . . . CMOS Ultra Low---Power Radiation---Tolerant (logic technology, a
processor developed for ST---5)
CUZK . . . . . . . . . Czech office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre
CVD . . . . . . . . . . Chemical Vapor Deposition (technique --- involves a gas---phase chemical reaction occurring above a solid surface, which causes deposition
onto that surface)
CVF . . . . . . . . . . . Circular Variable Filter (filter technology)
CVR . . . . . . . . . . . Chemical Vapor Reaction [also referred to as CVD (Chemical Vapor
Deposition), technique]
CVTE . . . . . . . . . Chemical Vapor Transport Experiment (Shuttle payload)
CVX . . . . . . . . . . . Critical Viscosity of Xenon (Shuttle payload)
CW . . . . . . . . . . . . Continuous Wave
CWAAS . . . . . . . . Canadian WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System)
CX---OLEV . . . . . ConeXpress---Orbital Life Extension Vehicle (ESA project). ConeXpress converts the Ariane 5 payload adaptor into a small satellite with
plasma propulsion. In GEO, the spacecraft will be able to rendezvous
and capture the client spacecraft and take over the attitude control and
extending the life of the client spacecraft.
CZT . . . . . . . . . . . Cadmium Zinc Telluride (a detector material --- also referred to as
CdZnTe)
D
DAAC . . . . . . . . . Distributed Active Archive Center (NASA EOSDIS Program)
DAB . . . . . . . . . . . Digital Audio Broadcasting
DALSA Corp. . . . DALSA Corporation of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada, since 1980)
manufacturing of semiconductor products, CCDs, etc.
DARA . . . . . . . . . Deutsche Agentur fr Raumfahrtangelegenheiten, Bonn (German
space agency (from 1989 to Sept. 30, 1997, DARA was integrated into
DLR effective Oct. 1, 1997)
DARPA . . . . . . . . Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (US DoD agency, since
1958, DARPA started as ARPA with an early focus on space research).
Technological innovations such as the Transit navigation system, Inter-
3382
DARWIN . . . . . .
DASA . . . . . . . . .
DASIA . . . . . . . . .
DASS . . . . . . . . . .
DAT . . . . . . . . . . .
DAT . . . . . . . . . . .
DATA---CHASER
DAVID . . . . . . . .
DBCP . . . . . . . . .
DBF . . . . . . . . . . .
DBMS . . . . . . . . .
DBS . . . . . . . . . . .
DBSI . . . . . . . . . .
DC . . . . . . . . . . . .
DCGS---IC . . . . .
DCRS . . . . . . . . .
DCRS . . . . . . . . .
DCP . . . . . . . . . . .
DCPI . . . . . . . . . .
DCS . . . . . . . . . . .
DCT . . . . . . . . . . .
DCW . . . . . . . . . .

net (in 1969 ARPANET started which become later Internet), stealth
technology, and many activities in the space program were sponsored
by DARPA.
Detection and Analysis of Remote Worlds by Interferometric Nulling
(planned ESA mission of six spacecraft in a hexagonal configuration),
planned launch in 2015.
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG, Munich (HQ), Germany (with 45,000
employees). Prior to Nov. 1998, DASA stood for Daimler---Benz Aerospace AG. Prior to January 1995 the meaning of the acronym DASA
was Deutsche Aerospace AG (since 1989). DASA/DSS (Dornier Satellitensysteme GmbH) is a DASA business unit responsible for all
satellite---related activities with facilities in Friedrichshafen and Ottobrunn. DASA (founded in 1989) is a conglomerate of the previous companies: Dornier, MBB (Messerschmitt---Blkow---Blohm), MTU
(Motoren--- und Turbinen---Union), and TST (Telefunken Systemtechnik). --- In addition, DASA is a partner in many alliances such as: Airbus, Ariane, Eurocopter, etc. Today, the three independent business
entities of DASA are: DASA/Airbus, DASA/DSS, and DASA/MTU. --As of 2000, DASA is called Astrium GmbH (see Astrium)
DAta Systems In Aerospace (a European conference organized by
Eurospace)
Distress Alerting Satellite System (a new payload to be added to the
next---generation GPS series --- in about 2010)
Digital Audio Tape (a high---volume data recording technique, helical
scan tape storage)
Dynamic Area Telethermometry (a medical application of an infrared
device (made possible with QWIP technology) for the detection of
breast cancer in the early stage]. The DAT---method is based on the
variation of the local skin temperature over time, which allows to distinguish between malignous versus healthy subcutaneous tissue.
Distribution and Automation Technology Advancement --- Colorado
Hitchhiker and Student Experiment of Solar Radiation (Shuttle)
Data and Video Interactive Distribution (a communications demonstration satellite of ASI, Italy)
Data Buoy Cooperation Panel [of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (of UNESCO) and WMO]
Digital Beamforming (radar antenna technique for electronic beam
steering)
Database Management System
Direct Broadcasting Satellite
Direct Broadcasting Satellite Industries Inc. of Mill Valley, CA
Direct Current
Distributed Common Ground System---Intelligence Community [a US
DoD initiative as of 2009 to achieve data and service interoperability
for the user community --- in particular through SOA (Service Oriented
Architecture)]
Danish Center for Remote Sensing (at EMI of TUD, Lyngby, Denmark)
Digital Cassette Recorder System
Data Collection Platform (ground segment platform for environmental data measurement, Meteosat, GOES, GMS)
Data Collection Platform Interrogation (GOES)
Data Collection System (NOAA--- GOES series, Meteosat series,
GMS series, geostationary satellites).
Discrete Cosine Transformation (compression technique)
Digital Chart of the World (a vector map database by DMA, Fairfax,
VA, USA)
3383
DOR . . . . . . . . . delta---Differential One---way Ranging. he DOR technique provides

very accurate plane---of---sky measurements of spacecraft position
which complement existing line---of---sight ranging and Doppler measurements. Note: DOR is the same as VLBI.
DEBITS . . . . . . . Deposition of Biogeochemically Important Trace Species
DECAFE . . . . . . Dynamics and Chemistry of the Atmosphere in Equatorial Forest
(campaign)
DEE . . . . . . . . . . . Dexterous End Effector (Shuttle)
DEM . . . . . . . . . . Digital Elevation Model (also referred to as DTM = Digital Terrain
Model)
DEMETER . . . . Detection of Electro---Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions (a CNES microsatellite mission within the program Myriade), M.28.1
DEOS . . . . . . . . . Delft Institute for Earth---Oriented Space Research [at Delft University of Technology (DUT), Delft, The Netherlands]
DEPFET . . . . . . . Depleted P---channel Field Effect Transistor [an APS (Active Pixel
Sensor) detector type]
DERA . . . . . . . . . Defence Evaluation and Research Agency [Farnborough, UK, an
agency of MoD (Ministry of Defense)]. DERA was established in April
1995 from elements of the former RAE (Royal Aerospace Establishment).
DESPA . . . . . . . . Dpartment de Recherche Spatiale de LOservatoire de Paris/Meudon
(France)
Dextre . . . . . . . . . Dexterous manipulator --- a two---armed 3.5 m long device on ISS
provided by Canada (installation on STS---123 in March 2008)
DFD . . . . . . . . . . . Deutsches Fernerkundungsdatenzentrum (German Remote Sensing
Data Center, DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen)
DFG . . . . . . . . . . . Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German National Research
Council)
DFH . . . . . . . . . . . Dong Fang Hong (East is Red --- also spelling as Dongfanghong !), a
Chinese communication satellite series in GEO which started with
DFH---1 (launch Apr. 24, 1970)
DFHSat . . . . . . . . DFH Satellite Co Ltd., established in Aug. 2001 by CAST (China Academy of Space Technology), Beijing and by the China Aerospace Science
and Technology Corporation. DFH is mainly engaged in the research
and development of small satellites. Standard (LEO, MEO) platforms
like the CAST968 bus and the CAST2000 bus are part of DFH activities. The DFH---3 bus is a medium capacity 2nd generation platform
(170 kg payload) being used for communication S/C, navigation S/C as
well as for the lunar mission Change.
DFL . . . . . . . . . . . David Florida Laboratory, Ottawa, ON, Canada. DFL is Canadas national spacecraft integration and environmental test facility since 1972.
DFL is a facility of CSA (Canadian Space Agency). DFL was built on
the CRC (Communications Research Center) campus in Ottawa to
support Canadian space projects. In 1989, when the CSA was created,
the DFL became part of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
DFN . . . . . . . . . . . Deutsches Forschungsnetz
DFS . . . . . . . . . . . Development Flight Satellite [a US DoD communication satellite
constellation (Milstar) with a first launch of DFS---1 in 1994]
DFVLR . . . . . . . . Deutsche Forschungs--- und Versuchsanstalt fr Luft--- und Raumfahrt
(predecessor name of DLR from 1969 until 1989). History: In 1969
(April 1) a merger of the following German research facilities occurred,
resulting in DFVLR with HQ in Kln---Porz: AVA (Aerodynamische
Versuchsanstalt, founded 1907 in Gttingen), DFL (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fr Luftfahrt, founded 1936 in Braunschweig), DVL
(Deutsche Versuchsanstalt fr Luftfahrt, founded 1912 in Berlin---Adlershof, after WW---II in Mhlheim---Ruhr, since the 1960s in Kln--Porz). FFO (Flugfunkforschungsinstitut Oberpfaffenhofen), founded
3384
DGA . . . . . . . . . .
DGASP . . . . . . . .
DGFI . . . . . . . . . .
DGGTN . . . . . . .
DGLR . . . . . . . . .
DGON . . . . . . . . .
DGPF . . . . . . . . .
DGPS . . . . . . . . .
DHI . . . . . . . . . . .
DIAL . . . . . . . . . .
Digipeater . . . . . .
DIN . . . . . . . . . . .
DInSAR . . . . . . .
DISA . . . . . . . . . .
Discoverer II . . . .
DISCOS . . . . . . .
DIVA . . . . . . . . . .
DLR . . . . . . . . . . .
DLR/DFD . . . . . .
DLR/FB . . . . . . .
DLR/GSOC . . . .
DLR/ICN . . . . . .
DLR/IOE . . . . . .
DLR/IPA . . . . . . .
DLR/HR . . . . . . .
DLR/IRM . . . . . .

in 1937, was integrated into DVL (Kln---Porz) in 1965. FFM (Flugwissenschaftliche Forschungsanstalt Mnchen) joined DVL in 1963.
Dlgation Gnrale pour lArmement (French Arms Procurement
Agency, since 1977). Prior to 1977 the agency was called: DMA (Dlgation Ministrielle pour lArmement). DGA is the heart of the
French defense system.
Dye 3 Gas and Aerosol Sampling Program (IGBP/IGAC program)
Deutsches Geodtisches Forschungsinstitut (Munich, Germany)
Direction General de Geografica del Territorio Nacional (Mexico)
Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Luft--- und Raumfahrt --- Lilienthal---Oberth
e. V., Bonn
Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Ortung und Navigation (Dsseldorf, Germany --- German Institute of Navigation)
Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Photogrammetrie und Fernerkundung
Differential GPS
Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut (Hamburg, Germany)
Differential Absorption Lidar (lidar observation technique)
A contraction of the words digital repeater. Digipeaters are used in
the amateur radio community. Store and forward digipeaters generally
receive a packet radio transmission and then retransmit it on the same
frequency, unlike repeaters that receive on one and transmit on another frequency.
Deutsches Institut fr Normung (German Institute for Standardization)
Differential SAR Interferometry. A method for mapping and monitoring centimetric ground surface deformations.
Defense Information Systems Agency (Washington D.C., since 1960,
purchaser of commercial satellite imagery for DoD)
A US (military) technology demonstration program of DARPA, USAF
and NRO, started in 1998, with the objective to develop a high---resolution interferometric SAR system (IFSAR) for surveillance and reconnaissance. In 2000 the US Congress terminated the program.
Database and Information System Characterizing Objects in Space
(ESA/ESOC database for space debris and meteoroids, since 1990)
Deutsches Interferometer fr Vierkanalphotometrie und Astronomie
(German Interferometer for Four---channel---photometriy and Astronomy), DIVA is a microsatellite within the ESA Horizon program
Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft--- und Raumfahrt e.V. (German Aerospace Center, with HQ in Kln; DLR is also the German Space
Agency). On Oct. 1, 1997 DARA was re---integrated into DLR. Prior to
Oct.1.1997 the meaning of DLR was: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fr
Luft--- und Raumfahrt e.V.
DLR/Deutsches Fernerkundungsdatenzentrum (German Remote
Sensing Data Center), Oberpfaffenhofen and Neustrelitz
DLR/Flugbereitschaft (aircraft operations; FB provides the services of
flying sensors for other institutes of DLR)
DLR/German Space Operations Center, Oberpfaffenhofen
DLR/Institute of Communication and Navigation, Oberpfaffenhofen
DLR/Institut fr Optoelektronik (Institute of Optoelectronics), Berlin
DLR/Institut Physik der Atmosphre (Institute of Atmospheric
Physics), Oberpfaffenhofen
DLR/Institut fr Hochfrequenztechnik und Radar (Microwave and
Radar Technology Institute, Oberpfaffenhofen)
DLR/ Institut fr Robotik und Mechatronik (Institute of Robotics and
Mechatronics), Oberpfaffenhofen
3385
DLR/ISST . . . . . . DLR/Institut fr Weltraumsensorik (Institute of Space Sensor Technology and Planetary Exploration, Berlin---Adlershof). There is also
the abbreviation: DLR/IWS
DLR/MUSC . . . . DLR/Microgravity User Support Center (Cologne, Germany)
DMA . . . . . . . . . . Defense Mapping Agency (Fairfax, VA, USA, mapping, charting &
geodetic products & services to the military, since 1972 --- since 1996
DMA is an integral part of NIMA)
DMA . . . . . . . . . . Direct Memory Access
DMC . . . . . . . . . . Disaster Monitoring Constellation (a 5 S/C constellation constructed
and coordinated by SSTL, UK)
DMCii . . . . . . . . . DMC International Imaging Ltd. In 2004, SSTL set up the company
DMCii at SSTL that manages the Disaster Monitoring Constellation
for the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters.
DMCii is supported by all members of the DMC consortium, to maintain a central catalog of the DMC constellation and to coordinate requests for imagery in particular to cover rapid response imagery services after disaster events. DMCii also sells satellite imaging services
under contract.
DMI . . . . . . . . . . . Danmarks Meteorologiske Institut (Danish Meteorological Institute,
founded in 1872) Copenhagen, Denmark
DMN . . . . . . . . . . Direction de la Mtorologie National (France)
DMOS . . . . . . . . . Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (Shuttle payload)
DMS . . . . . . . . . . Dimethylsulphide
DMSP . . . . . . . . . Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (USA), G.1
DND . . . . . . . . . . Department of National Defense (Canada)
Dnepr . . . . . . . . . Russian/Ukrainian launch vehicle for satellites. As part of a nuclear disarmament agreement, former Soviet SS---18 ICBMs (Intercontinental
Ballistic Missiles), were renamed to Dnepr. They are either being used
for commercial launches, or must be destroyed by Dec. 31, 2007. Commercial Dnepr launches are being conducted by ISC (International
Space Company) Kosmotras of Moscow, Russia. The first launch of
Dnepr took place in April 1999 with the UoSat---12 payload.
DNSC . . . . . . . . . Danish National Space Center, Copenhagen, Denmark (founded in
Jan. 2005) a new research center under the Ministry of Science,
Technology and Innovation. As of Jan. 2005, DNSC has taken over all
the responsibilities of DSRI.
DOAS . . . . . . . . . Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy
DOC . . . . . . . . . . Department of Commerce (USA)
DOC . . . . . . . . . . Dissolved Organic Carbon
DoD . . . . . . . . . . . Department of Defense (USA)
DOE . . . . . . . . . . Department of Energy (USA). Some major laboratories of DOE are:
ANL (Argonne National Laboratory), Argonne IL
BNL (Brookhaven National Laboratory), Upton, NY
FNAL (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory), Batavia, IL
LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory), Los Alamos, NM
LBL (Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory), Berkeley, CA
LLNL (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), Livermore, CA
ORNL (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Oak Ridge, TN (since 1948)
PNL (Pacific Northwest Laboratory), Richland, WA
SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center), Stanford, CA
SNL (Sandia National Laboratory), Albuquerque, NM and Livermore,
CA
DODGE . . . . . . . Department of Defense Gravity Experiment (M.10)
DOI . . . . . . . . . . . Digital Object Identifier (a system for identifying and exchanging intellectual property in the digital environment as defined in the International DOI Foundation)
DOM . . . . . . . . . . Dissolved Organic Matter (in particular in ocean color measurements)
3386
DOP . . . . . . . . . . . Dilution of Precision --- or Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) is

a GPS term used in geomatic engineering to describe the geometric
strength of satellite configuration on GPS accuracy.
DORIS . . . . . . . . Determination Orbite Radiopositionnement Integres Satellite (CNES
tracking system for the measurement of precision orbits); another
name convention is: Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite, see H.8.1
DoT . . . . . . . . . . . Department of Transportation (USA)
DPCA . . . . . . . . . Displaced Phase Center Antenna (SAR/radar technique)
DPCM . . . . . . . . . Differential Pulse Code Modulation (compression technique)
DQPSK . . . . . . . . Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (modulation technique)
DRA . . . . . . . . . . Defence Research Agency [Malvern, Farnborough, etc., UK, with over
6000 employees; DRA was established in 1991, it is the successor organization of RAE (Royal Aerospace Establishment), ARE (Admiralty
Research Establishment), RARDE (Royal Armament Research & Development Establishment), and RSRE (Royal Signal and Radar Establishment)]. As of April 1995 DRA was regrouped again and integrated
as a division into DERA (Defense Evaluation and Research Agency).
Another DERA reorganization in April 1997 dissolved DRA altogether.
DRAM . . . . . . . . Dynamic Random Access Method; DDR---RAM (Double Data Rate--Random Access Method)
Draper Lab . . . . . Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc. of Cambridge, MA. An MIT lab
founded in the 1930s; an independent non---profit research lab since
1973. Focus on GN&C (Guidance, Navigation & Control) technologies.
DRB . . . . . . . . . . Defense Research Board, Canada
DRDC . . . . . . . . . Defense Research and Development Canada (an agency of the Canadian Department of Defense)
DREO . . . . . . . . . Defense Research Establishment, Ottawa, Canada
DRI . . . . . . . . . . . Desert Research Institute (of the University of Nevada)
DRPM . . . . . . . . . Dynamic Reconfigurable Processing Module
DRS . . . . . . . . . . . Data Relay Satellite (ESA system to relay information from the European space plane)
DRTS . . . . . . . . . . Data Relay Technology Satellite (Japan, Ka---band transmission)
DS4G . . . . . . . . . . Dual---Stage 4---Grid ion thruster (as of 2006, a new ion thruster
technology of ESA)
DSB . . . . . . . . . . . Double Sideband
DSCOVR . . . . . . Deep Space Climate Observatory (an approved NASA mission, previously named as Triana)
DSCS---III . . . . . . Defense Satellite Communications System---3. DSCS is a military satellite constellation of DoD (USA) placed in geosynchronous orbit to provide high---volume, secure voice and data communications. The Air
Force began launching the DSCS---III in 1982 (launch of the DSCS--III---F1 took place Oct. 30, 1982). The DSCS---III series satellites
employ SHF (Super---High Frequency) communications on a global
scale (six SHF transponder channels). With DSCS---III---B6 (launch
Aug. 29, 2003), the DSCS constellation contains 14 spacecraft, built by
Lockheed Martin. Each DSCS S/C has a design life of 10 years.
As of Feb. 2009, the DSCS constellation has surpassed 200 years of on--orbit operations, the longest total operational experience of any U.S.
military communications satellite constellation.
DSL . . . . . . . . . . . Digital Subscriber Line. The DSL technology is a modem technology
that uses existing twisted---pair telephone lines to transport high--bandwidth data, such as multimedia and video, to service subscribers.
DSM . . . . . . . . . . Digital Surface Model (processing of imagery)
DSN . . . . . . . . . . . Deep Space Network (NASA/JPL). DSN operates a network of three
complexes around the world (Goldstone, CA; Madrid, Span; Canberra,
DSNU . . . . . . . . .
DSP . . . . . . . . . . .
DSP . . . . . . . . . . .
DSP . . . . . . . . . . .
DSRI . . . . . . . . . .
DSS . . . . . . . . . . .
DSS . . . . . . . . . . .
DSS . . . . . . . . . . .
DSSP . . . . . . . . . .
DSSS . . . . . . . . . .
D---STAR . . . . . .
DSX . . . . . . . . . . .
DTE . . . . . . . . . . .
DTED---2 . . . . . .
DTM . . . . . . . . . .
DTM94 . . . . . . . .
DTMF . . . . . . . . .
DTN . . . . . . . . . . .
DTP . . . . . . . . . . .
DTU . . . . . . . . . .
DUT . . . . . . . . . .
3387
Australia) that permit continuous coverage of solar system spacecraft

and their critical mission events.
Dark Signal Non---Uniformity (DSNU is the standard deviation of the
mean pixel value across an array of pixels)
Defense Support Program (USA, DoD S/C series in GEO using infrared sensors to detect missile plumes against the Earths background,
to detect and report missile launches, space launches, and nuclear detonations) DSP S/C operate since the 1970s.
Digital Signal Processor (computer, technology)
Double Star Project, China, see K.10
Danish Space Research Institute (Lyngby, Copenhagen, Denmark),
since 1968 [Note: in Jan. 2005 DRSI changed its name to DNSC (Danish National Space Center), and in January 2007 it became DTU Space,
an institute at the Technical University of Denmark].
Dornier Satellitensysteme GmbH (of DASA, Germany)
Delft Sensor Systems (provider of optoelectronic instruments). DSS
has been created by the integration of OIP (Optronic Instruments &
Products), located in Oudenaarde, Belgium --- and DIEO (Delft Instruments Electro---Optics, located in the Netherlands
Digital Sun Sensor (based on CCD or CMOS Active Pixel Sensor
technology)
Danish Small Satellite Program
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (communication technique). DSSS
allows multiple users to share the same bandwidth.
Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio (a new standard developed in Japan)
Deployable Structures Experiment (mission of USAF planned for
2006)
Digital Terrain Elevation
Digital Terrain Elevation Data Level 2. DTED---2 is the current basic
high resolution elevation data source for all military activities and systems that require landform, slope, elevation, and/or terrain roughness
in a digital format. DTED---2 is a uniform gridded matrix of terrain elevation values with post spacing of one arc second (approximately 30
m).
Digital Terrain Model (also referred to as DEM = Digital Elevation
Model)
Drag Temperature Model 1994 (an empirical thermospheric model to
determine the drag forces of a spacecraft for reentry analysis)
Dual Tone Multi---Frequency (encoding technique)
Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking. DTN is an end---to---end network architecture designed to provide communication in and/or
through highly stressed networking environments. DTN networks are
characterized by intermittent connectivity, long delays and non---contemporaneous end to end paths.
Note: DTN is also referred to as Disjoint/delay Tolerant Networking
Digital Transparent Processor (a key technology for payloads). DTPs
are particularly well---suited for routing channels or subchannels with
fine bandwidth granularity in telecommunication missions with multiple---beam antenna coverage, and offer reconfiguration flexibility
when mission reorientation is needed. --- DTPs with additional digital
beamforming (DBF) functionality will collect and handle digital
samples of the electromagnetic waves from many antenna array elements.
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (Technical University of Denmark),
Lyngby, Denmark
Delft University of Technology (Delft, The Netherlands)
3388
DVB . . . . . . . . . . . Digital Video Broadcast [a broadcast standard first introduced the mid
1990s by the communication industry for TV broadcasting. The DVB
project quickly expanded to include multimedia applications as well as
television. Data standards (DVB---IP and other protocols) were established in 1997.] A single DVB carrier may contain multiple logical data
channels, or PIDs, thereby allowing multiple data streams to be logically multiplexed on a single DVB carrier and decoded for distribution on
a site LAN.
DVB---ASI . . . . . . DVB---ASI (Asynchronous Serial Interface)
DVB---IP . . . . . . . DVB---IP (Internet Protocol)
DVB---H . . . . . . . Digital Video Broadcast---Handheld (as of late 2007 an EU---wide proposed standard for mobile TV services)
DVB---RCS . . . . . Digital Video Broadcast --- Return Channel via Satellite (DVB---RCS is
an open standard for user terminals)
DVB---S . . . . . . . . DVB---Satellite
DVD . . . . . . . . . . Digital Versatile Disk [some standard DVD formats are: DVD---5 (4.7
GByte storage capacity, one layer per disk), DVD---9 (8.5 GByte, two
layers per disk on one side, one layer is semi---permeable), DVD---10
(9.4 GByte, one layer per side and disk), DVD---18 (17 GByte, two layers per side and disk, one layer per side is semi---permeable)]
DWD . . . . . . . . . . Deutscher Wetterdienst [German Weather Service, with seven forecast
centers in Offenbach (HQ), Hamburg, Potsdam, Leipzig, Essen, Stuttgart, and Munich]. DWD employs over 3000 people in over 150 localities throughout Germany.
DWDM . . . . . . . . Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (a network technique)
DWL . . . . . . . . . . Doppler Wind Lidar (a active laser instrument based either on coherent heterodyne receiver technology or on incoherent direct receiver
technology)
DYCOMS . . . . . . Dynamics and Chemistry of Marine Stratocumulus Experiment (campaign)
E
EA . . . . . . . . . . . . Environment Agency (of Japan)
EADS N. V. . . . . . European Aeronautic, Defense and Space company, registered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. EADS is a holding company of DASA and a
French pool group with Lagardre as the major partner. Merger announcement of DASA (Germany) and Aerospatiale Matra S. A.
(France) in Oct. 1999 --- the merger was realized July 10, 2000 with
DASA, Aerospatiale Matra, and CASA (Construcciones Aeronuticas
SA) of Madrid, Spain. The following units are part of EADS: 1) EADS
Space (France, Germany, UK and Spain), 2) EADS---Astrium (France,
Germany, UK, Spain), 3) EADS---Space Transportation (France, Germany), 4) EADS---CASA (Madrid, Spain, 5) EADS Sodern (Limeil--Brvannes, France), 6) EADS Space Services (Paris, Portsmouth, Stevenage, Ottobrunn)
EAP . . . . . . . . . . . Electro---active Polymer. EAP is a shape---changing light---weight material. An EAP changes its shape and size in response to an electric
stimulus.
EARLINET . . . . European Aerosol Research LIdar NETwork (since 2000), a coordinated network of ground---based lidar stations for the vertical profiling
of aerosols at continental long---term scale
EarlyBird . . . . . . . Commercial imaging satellite
EARS . . . . . . . . . EUMETSAT ATOVS Retransmission Service (started in 2002)
EARSC . . . . . . . . European Association of Remote Sensing Companies, (Brussels, Belgium)
EARSEC . . . . . . . European Airborne Remote Sensing Capabilities [program since 1990
between CEC (JRC in Ispra, Italy) and ESA]
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EARSeL . . . . . . . European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories (since 1976)

EarthCARE . . . . Earth Clouds Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (a proposed ESA core
mission)
EarthKAM . . . . . Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students (a NASA education program, PI: Sally Ride, UCSD). The camera program started in
1996 as KidSat on Shuttle flight STS---76. EarthKAM was taken onboard the ISS with STS---98 (Feb. 7---21, 2001) and installed on ISS as
ISS EarthKAM. EarthKAM photographs are taken by remote operation from the ground. Since 1996, EarthKAM students have taken
thousands of photographs of Earth.
EARTHNET . . . ESA Program since 1977. Earthnet refers to an ESA organization responsible for the ground segment of Earth Observation. Functions: acquisition, archiving and distribution of Earth science data.
EarthScope . . . . . A US integrated initiative and a US national program to explore the
structure and evolution of the North American continent and the physical processes controlling its earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
EarthWatch Inc. . A US Earth observation company in Longmont, CO. EarthWatch was
formed in January 1995 and is a joint venture of Ball Aerospace &
Technologies Inc. and WorldView Imaging Corporation (builder of
EarlyBird and QuickBird). In October 2001 EarthWatch was renamed
to DigitalGlobe Inc.
Earth Watch . . . . ESA program [these are the operational (or pre---operational) service---oriented missions addressing specific application areas of Europe]. The Earth Watch missions are operational ESA missions and
represent first steps of service provision. They have to be driven by operational users and be sustainable in the long term without ESA financial support. They are to be developed in partnership with EUMETSAT
or other agencies or public entities such as the EC, or with industry or
commercial ventures. The Earth Watch Initiative started in 2001 with
the goal to secure for Europe an independent sustainable capability in
operational Earth observation. The GMES initiate fits into Earth
Watch.
EASC . . . . . . . . . . European Air and Space Conference
EASE . . . . . . . . . . Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity
(Shuttle)
EASOE . . . . . . . . European Arctic Stratospheric Ozone Experiment (campaign)
EBCCD . . . . . . . . Electron---bombarded CCD array
EC . . . . . . . . . . . . European Commission (since 1995: CEU (Commission of the European Union)
ECBAQ . . . . . . . . Entropy Constrained Block Adaptive Quantization
ECD . . . . . . . . . . . Electron Capture Detector
ECLIPS . . . . . . . . Experimental Cloud Lidar Pilot Study (campaign)
ECMWF . . . . . . . European Centre for Medium---Range Weather Forecasts (located in
Reading, UK, founded in 1973). ECMWF is an international organization supported by the following European states: Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United
Kingdom. ECMWF has working arrangements with WMO, EUMETSAT and ACMAD (African Centre for Meteorological Applications
for Development).
ECS . . . . . . . . . . . EOSDIS Core System (USA)
ECSS . . . . . . . . . . European Cooperation for Space Standards (ESA)
EDA . . . . . . . . . . . European Defence Agency (since July 2004). EDA is an Agency of the
European Union (EU)
EDAC . . . . . . . . . Earth Data Analysis Center (NASA contractor center at the University
of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, since 1964)
EDAC . . . . . . . . . Error Detection and Correction (information processing term)
3390
EDC . . . . . . . . . . . EROS Data Center of the US Geological Survey (Sioux Falls, SD,
DAAC of NASA EOS Program for Land Processes)
FDE . . . . . . . . . . . Fault Detection and Exclusion [capability of GPS to: 1) detect a satellite failure which effects navigation; and 2) automatically exclude that
satellite from the navigation solution]
EDI . . . . . . . . . . . Electronic Data Interchange, (Format Specification according to ANSI
Standard X.12; (an existing but non---ISO Protocol)
EDIFACT . . . . . . Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and
Transport
EDO . . . . . . . . . . Extended Duration Orbiter (Shuttle)
EEA . . . . . . . . . . . European Environment Agency (since 1990, located in Copenhagen
since 1993, Denmark)
EECF . . . . . . . . . . Earthnet ERS---1 Central Facility (ESA facility at ESRIN, Italy)
EEGS . . . . . . . . . Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society
E---ELT . . . . . . . . European Extremely Large Telescope, will be the largest ground--based telescope of ESO (European Southern Observatory) in Chile.
E---ELT features a 42 m filled aperture collector (a 5 mirror anastigmatic optical system) with exquisite image quality thanks to an internal adaptive optics corrector, and large platforms for putting on---line a dedicated set of powerful post---focal instruments.
In April 2010, the ESO Council selected Cerro Armazones as the
baseline site. Cerro Armazones is a mountain at an altitude of 3060 m in
the central part of Chiles Atacama Desert. The final go---ahead for
construction is expected at the end of 2010. Completion of the project is
expected in the time frame 2018.
EELV . . . . . . . . . . Extended Envelope Launch Vehicle [US Air Force launcher; launch of
first EELV mission on Mar. 11, 2003 (Delta---4M launch vehicle from
Cape Canaveral, FLA), a military communications satellite, A3 payload, on Boeings DSCS---III (Defense Satellite Communications System) platform]
EEP . . . . . . . . . . . Earth Explorer Program (ESA). Earth Explorer missions are designed
to address critical and specific issues that have been raised by the science community whilst demonstrating breakthrough technology in observing techniques. Some approved Earth Explorer missions are: CryoSat, GOCE, SMOS, ADM---Aeolus, Swarm and EarthCARE.
EEPROM . . . . . . Electrically Erasable Programmable Read---Only Memory
EETFI . . . . . . . . . European Environmental Test Facility Inventory. EEFTI is a searchable web---based database of European space environmental test facilities.
EEV . . . . . . . . . . . English Electric Valve, Chelmsford, UK (manufacturer of detectors)
EEVT . . . . . . . . . Electrophoresis Equipment Verification Test (Shuttle)
EFDA . . . . . . . . . European Fusion Development Agreement
EFEDA . . . . . . . . European Field Experiment in Desertification---threatened Areas
(campaign)
EFTF . . . . . . . . . . European Frequency and Time Forum. EFTF is an international conference and exhibition, providing information on recent advances and
trends of scientific research and industrial development in the fields of
Frequency and Time.
e.g. . . . . . . . . . . . . abbreviation (Latin: exempli gratia) for example
EGPM . . . . . . . . . European Global Precipitation Measurement (a contribution to the
GPM project of NASA and NASDA
EGM96 . . . . . . . . Earth Gravity Model 1996 (developed at NASA/GSFC, NIMA, and
Ohio State University). It is based on surface gravity data, altimeter--derived gravity anomalies from ERS---1 and from GEOSAT, extensive
satellite tracking data (GPS, TDRSS, DORIS, TRANET), and direct
altimeter ranges from TOPEX/POSEIDON, ERS---1, and GEOSAT.
3391
EGNOS . . . . . . . . European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (planned ESA

complementary system to GPS and GLONASS to provide Europe with
GPS/GLONASS service availability, continuity and signal integrity)
EGS . . . . . . . . . . . Energia GPI (Georgian Polytechnical Intellect) Space, [a Russian--Georgian company in Korolev (Moscow region), Russia and in Tbilisi,
Georgia]. EGS was founded in 1999 by Rocket Space Corporation
(RSC) Energia, referred to as S.P.A. EGS, and the company Georgian
Polytechnical Intellect, Ltd, referred to as EGS Ltd. EGS is an expert
in large---scale deployable structures.
EGS . . . . . . . . . . . European Geophysical Society (since 1971)
EGS . . . . . . . . . . . Experimental Geodetic Satellite of NASDA, (Ajisai)
EGU . . . . . . . . . . Europen Geosciences Union (since 2002)
EHF . . . . . . . . . . . Extremely High Frequency (30 --- 300 GHz band)
EHIC . . . . . . . . . . Energetic Heavy Ion Composition Experiment
EIROforum . . . . A forum of European Intergovernmental Research Organizations
(since 2002). EIROforum is made up of 7 of Europes leading intergovernmental research organizations: CERN (particle physics), EMBL
(molecular biology), ESA (space activities), ESO (astronomy and astrophysics), ESRF (synchrotron radiation), ILL (neutron source) and
EFDA (fusion).
EIRP . . . . . . . . . . Effective Isotropic Radiated Power
EISAC . . . . . . . . . European Imaging Spectrometry Aircraft Campaign (1989---90)
EISCAT . . . . . . . . European Incoherent Scatter Radar
EIT . . . . . . . . . . . . Electro---bombardment Ion Thruster (electric propulsion system of
MMS, France)
EIT . . . . . . . . . . . . Electromagnetically Induced Transparency
EKOSat . . . . . . . . ELOP---KARI---OHB Satellite
ELAC . . . . . . . . . European Lidar Airborne Campaign
ELaNa . . . . . . . . . Education Launch of Nanosatellite (NASA initiative of 2010 to foster
CubeSat launch opportunities)
ELDO . . . . . . . . . European Launcher Development Organization (since 1962) ELDO
is, along with ESRO, a predecessor organization of ESA
ELDP . . . . . . . . . . European Lake Drilling Project (campaign under PANASH)
ELF . . . . . . . . . . . Extremely Low Frequency (30 --- 3000 Hz)
ELINT . . . . . . . . . Electronic Intelligence (used in the context of DoD missions)
ELITE . . . . . . . . . European LITE (campaign) LITE = Lidar In---space Technology Experiment (Shuttle payload)
ELOISE . . . . . . . European Land---Ocean Interaction Studies (campaign)
El---Op . . . . . . . . . El---Op Electro---Optics Industries of Rehovot, Israel (as of 2000 El--Op is part of Elbit Systems Ltd. of Haifa, Israel)
ELRAD . . . . . . . . Earth---Limb Radiance Experiment (Shuttle payload)
ELT---121.5 . . . . . Emergency Locator Transmitter (see COSPAS---S&RSAT, I.11)
ELVES . . . . . . . . . Emission of Light and Very Low Frequency Perturbations From Electromagnetic Pulse Sources (lightning phenomenon, a flash of millisecond lifetime)
EMAC . . . . . . . . . European Multi---Sensor Airborne Campaign (in the framework of
ESA/JRC collaboration)
EMBL . . . . . . . . . European Molecular Biology Laboratory
EMBRAER . . . . Empresa Brasileira de Astronautica SA (aircraft and space payload
manufacturer, Sa Jos dos Campos, SP, Brazil)
EMC . . . . . . . . . . Electromagnetic Compatibility
EMCCD . . . . . . . Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device (as of 2003, a new and
more sensitive CCD detector technology)
EMEX . . . . . . . . . Equatorial Mesoscale Experiment (campaign)
EMF . . . . . . . . . . Electromotive Force
3392
EMFF . . . . . . . . . Electromagnetic Formation Flight (a proposed concept of actuating

multiple spacecraft in relative degrees of freedom using electromagnetic forces and reaction wheels)
EMI . . . . . . . . . . . Electromagnetic Interference
EMP . . . . . . . . . . . Electromagnetic Pulse
EMS . . . . . . . . . . EMS Technologies, Inc. (since 1968), Atlanta, GA, USA, provider of
space communications equipment (first beam---forming network for
the DSCS communication satellites of DoD in 1976 --- thus providing
electronic antenna steering); EMS has also a major facility in Montreal,
Canada
EMSA . . . . . . . . . European Maritime Safety Agency (Lisboa, Portugal). EMSA was established by the EU in 2003.
EMSL . . . . . . . . . Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory (Las Vegas, NV, EPA
facility)
EMWIN . . . . . . . Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (of the GOES
S/C series). EMWIN is a dissemination system (and service) used to
provide timely dissemination of warnings, watches, graphics, and other
hydro meteorological products to emergency managers with minimal
equipment cost to them.
ENA . . . . . . . . . . . Energetic Neutral Atoms [neutral atoms or molecules created by
charge exchange between energetic ions (such as the Earths radiation
belts) and a cold neutral gas (such as the Earths exosphere)]
ENEA . . . . . . . . . Ente per le Nuove tecnologie lEnergia e lAmbiente (Rome, Italy)
ENSO . . . . . . . . . El Nio Southern Oscillation
ENVISAT . . . . . . Environmental Satellite (ESA, see D.13)
EO . . . . . . . . . . . . Earth Observation
EO---1 . . . . . . . . . Earth Observing---1 (NASA S/C)
EOCAP . . . . . . . . NASAs Earth Observations Commercial Applications Program, since
1987 (NASAs intent is to commercialize remote sensing technology
originally developed to support scientific exploration)
EOL . . . . . . . . . . . End of Life
EOPP . . . . . . . . . . Earth Observation Preparatory Programme (of ESA)
EORF . . . . . . . . . Environment Measurements by the Real---Time Radiation Monitor
(Shuttle payload)
EOS . . . . . . . . . . . Earth Observing System (NASA), D.15
EOS . . . . . . . . . . . European Optical Society
EOSAT . . . . . . . . Earth Observation Satellite Company (Commercial distributor of
Landsat imaging data, located in Lanham, MD, since 1985, EOSAT is a
joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Hughes Aircraft). Space Imaging
Inc. (since 1994) of Thornton, CO of LM and E---Systems, acquired
EOSAT in 1995. The new company was subsequently renamed into:
Space Imaging EOSAT [distributor of IKONOS imagery, ERS---1/2,
JERS and Radarsat data (USA), global distributor of IRS---1C/D imagery]. Since 1998 the company name is: Space Imaging. The owners of
Space Imaging are: LM, E---Systems (of Raytheon Co, Lexington,
MA), Mitsubishi, Vander Horst (Singapore), Halla Heavy Industries
(Korea).
EOSDIS . . . . . . . EOS Data and Information System
EP . . . . . . . . . . . . Electric Propulsion (of spacecraft)
EPA . . . . . . . . . . . Environmental Protection Agency (USA, since 1970)
EPFL . . . . . . . . . . Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Switzerland
EPIRB . . . . . . . . . Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (on COSPAS and
S&RSAT payloads)
EPOCS . . . . . . . . Equatorial Pacific Ocean Climate Studies (campaign)
EPOCS . . . . . . . . European Committee on Ocean and Polar Sciences
EPOP . . . . . . . . . . European Polar Platform (old name, now POEM)
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EPOS . . . . . . . . . . European Proximity Operations Sensor (ESA test of GPS Tensor receivers and an optical rendezvous sensor for Shuttle---Mir docking maneuvers on STS---84 and STS---86)
EPS . . . . . . . . . . . Earth, Planets and Space (journal, since 1998). EPS is the continuation
of the Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity and the Journal
of Physics of the Earth
Equator---S . . . . . Solar Terrestrial Mission (K.11)
ER---2 . . . . . . . . . Extended Range U---2 (US research aircraft of NASA/ARC)
ERA . . . . . . . . . . . European Robotic Arm, built by Dutch Space as prime contractor,
(joint ESA and Roskosmos contribution to ISS; installation of the 11 m
long robotic arm is planned for 2009). ERA will be part of the Russian
MLM (Multi---purpose Laboratory Module)
ERB . . . . . . . . . . . Earth Radiation Budget
ERBS . . . . . . . . . . Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (NASA), A.16
ERC32 . . . . . . . . . Embedded Real---time computing Core --- 32 bit. ERC32 is an ESA--sponsored radiation---tolerant processor developed for space applications [ERC32 is a variation on the SPARC (V, 32---bit, RISC, 10 Mips)
architecture]. The ERC32 consists of: IU (Integer Unit), FPU (Floating Point Unit), and MEC (Memory Controller). All three devices are
manufactured by Temic/MHS on a 0.8 mm CMOS/EPI radiation---tolerant technology. A single---chip version of the ERC32 is available as of
2001: ERC32SC/TSC695E of ATMEL Wireless and Microcontrollers,
Nantes, France.
ERG . . . . . . . . . . Energization and Radiation in Geospace (a mission under development at JAXA/ISAS --- for launch in 2013)
ERICA . . . . . . . . Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic (campaign)
ERIM . . . . . . . . . Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (HQ in Ann Arbor,
MI). ERIM is a nonprofit contract research organization in the field of
remote sensing. In May 1997, ERIM was transformed into a profit--seeking company and changed its name to ERIM International. History: The Willow Run Laboratories were founded in 1947. In 1973 the
Willow Run Laboratories team separated from the University of Michigan and became ERIM. --- In 2000 ERIM International Inc. became
part of Veridian Systems, the new company is called: Veridian ERIM
International
EROS . . . . . . . . . Earth Resources Observation Systems (Data Center of USGS in Sioux
Falls, SD, archive for Landsat and other data)
EROS . . . . . . . . . Earth Remote Observation System (P.91)
ERS---1,2 . . . . . . . European Remote Sensing Satellite (ESA program), D.17 and D.18
ERS . . . . . . . . . . . Earth Resource Satellite
ERSDAC . . . . . . . Earth Remote Sensing Data Analysis Center (Tokyo, Japan)
ERTS---1 . . . . . . . Earth Resources Technology Satellite (NASA satellite, in 1975
ERTS---1 was renamed to Landsat---1 and the entire ERTS program
was renamed to Landsat)
ESA . . . . . . . . . . . European Space Agency (since 1975), ESA---HQ in Paris (ESA member states are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom; in 2008 the
Czech Republic became the 18th member state of ESA. Canada and
Hungary participate in some projects under cooperation agreements).
In April 2010, the Slovak Republic signed a cooperation agreement
with ESA.
ESAC . . . . . . . . . . Earth Sciences Advisory Committee (ESA)
ESA/EAC . . . . . . ESA/European Astronaut Centre, ESA facility at Cologne, Germany
ESA/ESAC . . . . . ESA/European Space Astronomy Centre, ESA facility in Villafranca,
Spain (since 2004). ESAC is located about 30 km west of Madrid. The
Spanish National Centre for ESAs SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean
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ESA/ESOC . . . . .
ESA/ESRIN . . . .
ESA/ESTEC . . . .
ESA---IRS . . . . . .
ESA/PB---EO . . .
ESCAP . . . . . . . .
ESCAPE . . . . . . .
ESCC . . . . . . . . . .
ESCCON . . . . . . .
ESDE . . . . . . . . .
ESDP . . . . . . . . . .
ESE . . . . . . . . . . .
ESEM . . . . . . . . .
ESF . . . . . . . . . . .
ESDIS . . . . . . . . .
ESIC . . . . . . . . . .
ESIS . . . . . . . . . . .
ESNI . . . . . . . . . .
ESO . . . . . . . . . . .
ESOC . . . . . . . . .
ESPA . . . . . . . . . .
ESPI . . . . . . . . . . .

Salinity) mission will be located at ESAC (launch of SMOS in 2008).
ESAC was officially opened in Feb. 2008.
ESA/European Space Operation Centre (ESA facility in Darmstadt,
Germany)
ESA/European Space Research Institute (ESA facility, Frascati, Italy)
ESA/European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA facility
in Noordwijk, Netherlands)
ESA --- Information Retrieval Service (online database at ESRIN)
ESA/Programme Board --- Earth Observation
(UN) Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand
Experiment of the Sun for Complementing the ATLAS Payload and for
Education (Shuttle Payload)
European Space Components Coordination (a standardization body,
since Oct. 2002, signed by ESA, CNES, DLR, BNSC, ASI and Eurospace on behalf of the user industries); ESCC secretariat at ESTEC
European Space Components Conference
Earth Science Decadal Survey (a NASA mission series under development)
European Security and Defense Policy
Earth Science Enterprise [NASA program with the previous designation of MTPE (Mission to Planet Earth)]. ESE projects include such
missions as: TOMS---EP, SeaWiFS, ACRIMSat, SORCE (SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment), OCO (Orbiting Carbon Observatory),
AQUARIUS, HYDROS, and OSTM (Ocean Surface Topography
Mission)
Evaluation of Space Environment Effects on Materials (Shuttle payload of NASA/LaRC) ESEM experiments are focused on cosmic dust
collection
European Science Foundation (Strasbourg, France)
Earth Science Data and Information System (NASA/GSFC)
Earth Science Information Center (USGS operates a network of ESICs
to distrubute Earth science data and related products)
European Space Information System (ESA data system)
European Satellite Navigation Industries (since 2000, development of
Galileo system). ESNI, with HQs in Ottobrunn near Munich, Germany, is owned by Alcatel Alenia Space SAS of France, Finmeccanica SpA
of Italy, EADS Astrium GmbH of Germany, EADS Astrium Ltd of
United Kingdom, Galileo Sistemas y Servicios of Spain, a consortium of
seven Spanish companies, and three Thales subsidaries.
Note: Until 2006, ESNI was referred to as GaIn (GalileoIndustries SA)
with HQ in Brussels.
European Southern Observatory. ESO is an intergovernmental, European organization for astronomical research (since 1962). ESO is supported by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The
ESO/HQ are located in Garching, near Munich, Germany. ESO operates two major observatories in the Atacama desert in Chile: 1) La Silla
Observatory, located about 600 km north of Santiago at an altitude of
2400 m, and 2) VLT (Very Large Telescope) at Paranal, located on a
2.600 m high mountain some 130 km south of Antofagasta, Chile.
European Space Operation Centre [ESA facility in Darmstadt, Germany, since Sept. 1967; formerly ESDAC (European Space Data Center)
under ESRO]
EELV (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle) Secondary Payload Adapter --- --- a multiple launch system for small satellites used in the Space
Test Program (STP) of the USAF
European Space Policy Institute (Vienna, Austria)
3395
ESPRIT . . . . . . . . Effects of Space Weather on Technology Infrastructure (NATO Advanced Research Workshop)
ESRF . . . . . . . . . . European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Grenoble, France)
ESRI . . . . . . . . . . Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (since 1969)
ESRIN . . . . . . . . . European Space Research Institute (ESA facility in Frascati, Italy)
ESRO . . . . . . . . . European Space Research Organization (founded in 1962 by ten European countries; predecessor organization of ESA)
ESSA . . . . . . . . . . Environmental Science and Services Administration (this was a predecessor organization of NOAA)
Essaim . . . . . . . . . Essaim means swarm in French. Essaim is also the name of 4 microsatellites of DGA (Defense Procurement Agency), France. The objective
is analysis of the electromagnetic environment (military use). The satellites use the Myriade microsatellite bus of CNES.
ESSP . . . . . . . . . . Earth System Science Pathfinder, a NASA program that started in 1997
(small---scale, low---cost, and quick---turnaround NASA missions like
QuikTOMS, VCL, GRACE, SORCE, CALIPSO (formerly PICASSO---CENA), CLOUDSAT, VOLCAM, etc.)
ESSP . . . . . . . . . . European Satellite Services Provider [AENA (Spain), DFS (Germany), DSNA (France), ENAV (Italy), NATS (United Kingdom), NAV
(Portugal) and Skyguide (Switzerland)]. ESSP is the operator of the
EGNOS system and the provider of EGNOS safety critical services.
ESTC . . . . . . . . . . Earth Science Technology Conference (a yearly NASA conference)
ESTEC . . . . . . . . European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA facility in
Noordwijk, Netherlands)
ESTO . . . . . . . . . . Earth Science Technology Office [at NASA/HQ --- --- the IIP (Instrument Incubator Program) is sponsored by ESTO]
ESTRACK . . . . . European Station Tracking (ESA network of tracking stations)
ETALON . . . . . . Russian passive satellite series for geodetic measurements, E.4
ETHZ . . . . . . . . . Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule, Zrich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zrich)
ETHZ/IGP . . . . . ETHZ/Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry
ETL . . . . . . . . . . . Electrotechnical Laboratorium (of MITI, Japan)
ETRI . . . . . . . . . . Electronic and Telecommunications Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea (since 1976, a non---profit government organization)
ETS . . . . . . . . . . . Engineering Test Satellite (NASDA technology series, Japan)
ETS . . . . . . . . . . . European Telecommunication Standard
ETSI . . . . . . . . . . European Telecommunications Standards Institute (since 1988)
EU . . . . . . . . . . . . European Union (formerly EC = European Community)
EUCREX . . . . . . European Cloud and Radiation Experiment (campaign)
EUG . . . . . . . . . . Europen Union of Geosciences (Strasbourg, France, since 1980)
EUMETSAT . . . . European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Darmstadt, Germany, since 1986 --- operational agency of the Meteosat and the future MetOp systems; EUMETSAT inherited the Meteosat program operation from ESA). EUMETSAT member states
are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Germany,
Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
EUMETCast . . . . EUMETSAT data distribution system (a multi---cast system based on a
client/server configuration). EUMETCast distributes data files using
DVB (Digital Video Broadcast) to its user community
EurasSpace . . . . . EurasSpace GmbH, Munich; Euro---Asian Space venture between
DASA of Germany and CASC (Chinese Aerospace Corp. of Beijing);
builders of telecommunication satellites (Sinosat---1, etc.)
EURECA . . . . . . European Retrievable Carrier (platform deployed and retrieved on
Shuttle) J.5
EUREF . . . . . . . . European Reference Frame (since 1987). EUREF is a sub---commission of IAGs (International Association of Geodesy) Commission X
3396
EURIMAGE . . .
EURISY . . . . . . .
Eurockot . . . . . . .
EUROLAS . . . . .
EUROPTO . . . . .
EuroSDR . . . . . .
Eurospace . . . . . .
EUSAR . . . . . . . .
EUSC . . . . . . . . .
EUSIPCO . . . . . .
Eutelsat . . . . . . . .
EUV . . . . . . . . . .
EVA . . . . . . . . . . .
EVN . . . . . . . . . . .
EXA . . . . . . . . . . .
EXOS . . . . . . . . .
EXPERT . . . . . . .
EXPRESSO . . . .

on Global and Regional Geodetic Networks. EUREF maintains an
array of GPS permanent sites --- the EUREF Permanent Network
(EPN). About 100 GPS stations were part of the EUREF in 2000 (for
interdisciplinary monitoring/investigations including geodynamics, sea
level monitoring and GPS meteorology).
European Consortium for Satellite Image Dissemination (Rome, Italy
--- a commercial data distributor. The consortium is made up by the following companies: SSC, MATRA, NRSC and Dornier)
European Association for ISY [one of two ISY (International Space
Year) organizers in Europe, see SAFISY] Paris, France (since 1989).
EURISY is an independent non---governmental body, fostering collective actions for bridging space and society.
Eurockot Launch Services GmbH, Bremen, Germany. A joint venture
company between Russias Khrunichev and Germanys EADS Space
Transportation (formerly DASA). The launcher is the Rockot vehicle,
built by KhSC (Khrunichev Space Center), Moscow. Rockot is a modified version of Russias SS---19 missile, a three---stage liquid---fueled
launch vehicle. Eurockot maintains its launch facilities in Plesetsk, Russia. The first launch demonstration of a Rockot vehicle occurred on
May 16, 2000 from Plesetsk with Simsat---1 and ---2, two dummy payloads.
European Laser Stations (ground network of SLR stations)
A joint venture between EOS (European Optical Society) and SPIE
(Society of Photo---Optical Instrumentation Engineering)
European Organization of Spatial Data Research
The association of European space industry, Paris, since 1961
European SAR Conference (established in 1996, a conference is held
on a 2---year basis)
European Union Satellite Center (Torrejn de Ardoz, in the vicinity of
Madrid, Spain, since 2001). EUSC is an agency of the Council of the European Union dedicated to the exploitation and production of information derived primarily from the analysis of Earth observation space imagery.
European Signal Processing Conference
European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (international
consortium). On July 2, 2001, Eutelsat became a private, liability---limited company, Eutelsat SA
Extreme Ultra Violet (spectral range), see also: XUV
Extravehicular Activity (Astronaut activity outside a space vehicle)
European VLBI Network (since 1980)
Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency (since Nov. 1, 2007)
Exospheric Observations, ISAS program (K.12)
European eXPErimental Reentry Testbed (ESA research program,
suborbital launch)
Experiment for Regional Sources and Sinks of Oxidants (campaign)
F
FAA . . . . . . . . . . . Federal Aviation Administration (since 1958, regulatory agency for all
civil aviation in the Department of Transportation, USA)
FACH . . . . . . . . . Fuerza Aerara de Chile (Chilenian Air Force)
FAGS . . . . . . . . . . Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Services
FAISAT . . . . . . . . Final Analysis Inc. Satellite (C.3)
Fakel . . . . . . . . . . EDB (Experimental Design Bureau) Fakel, Kaliningrad, Russia;
manufacturer of EPS (Electric Propulsion Systems) and LPT (Liquid
Propellant Thrusters), etc. --- EDB Fakel is part of a joint venture
named ISTI (International Space Technology, Inc.)
FAME . . . . . . . . . Full---sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer (US MIDEX mission)

FAO . . . . . . . . . . .
FARE . . . . . . . . . .
FASat---Alfa . . . .
FASINEX . . . . . .
FAST . . . . . . . . . .
FAST . . . . . . . . . .
FASTEX . . . . . . .
FATE . . . . . . . . . .
FBG . . . . . . . . . . .
FBG . . . . . . . . . . .
FCC . . . . . . . . . . .
FDDI . . . . . . . . . .
FDIR . . . . . . . . . .
FDMA . . . . . . . . .
FDP . . . . . . . . . . .
FEA . . . . . . . . . . .
FEC . . . . . . . . . . .
FEEP . . . . . . . . . .
FET . . . . . . . . . . .
FET . . . . . . . . . . .
FF . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FFG/ALR . . . . . .
FFI . . . . . . . . . . . .
FFSK . . . . . . . . . .
FFT . . . . . . . . . . .
FGAN . . . . . . . . .
FGGE . . . . . . . . .
FhG . . . . . . . . . . .
3397
Food and Agriculture Organization (of the UN)

Fluid Acquisition and Resupply Experiment (Shuttle)
Fuerza Aerea Satellite --- Alfa (D.62.12)
Frontal Air---Sea Interaction Experiment (campaign)
Fast Auroral Snapshot Explorer (GSFC mission, K.25.2)
Fore---Aft Scan Technique (radar)
Fronts & Atlantic Storm Track Experiment (campaign)
FIRST ATSR Tropical Experiment (campaign)
Functional Cargo Block (first element of ISS also referred to as Zarya)
Fiber Bragg Grating (a sensor system based on optical fibers). The low
mass and volume, the multiplexing capability and the electromagnetic
immunity are the key enablers for FBG sensor employment in satellite
applications.
Federal Communications Commission (Washington, DC, USA)
Fiber Distributed Data Interface
Failure Detection, Isolation and Recovery (onboard subsystem)
Frequency Division Multiple Access (access scheme)
Fluorescent Dye Particles (a tracer technique in lidar observations)
Fluid Experiment Apparatus (Shuttle)
Forward Error Correction (data coding technique) FEC coding (also
called channel coding) is a type of digital signal processing that improves data reliability by introducing a known structure into a data sequence prior to transmission or storage. FEC types: convolutional coding (since 1955), Viterbi decoding (since 1967), concatenated coding
(since 1974), turbo coding (since 1993), etc.
Field Effect Electric Propulsion
Field---Effect Transistor (JFET = Junction Field---Effect Transistor)
Free Elliptical Trajectory (formation flying)
Formation Flying (spacecraft)
Forschungsfrderungsgesellschaft/Agentur fr Luft--- und Raumfahrt,
Wien, sterreich.
Note: FFG is the Austrian Research Promotion Agency, Vienna,
Austria. The ALR (Aeronautics and Space Agency) is part of FFG (the
funding/coordination agency of the Austrian Ministry, BMVIT), while
ALR implements the Austrian aerospace policy and manages the various programs. As of April 2005, the former ASA (Austrian Space
Agency) was renamed to ALR and integrated into FFG/ALR.
Norwegian Defense Research Establishment, Kjeller, Norway
Fast Frequency Shift Keying (modulation technique)
Fast Fourier Transform 5905)
Forschungsgesellschaft fr Angewandte Naturwissenschaften e.V.
(German Defense Research Facility for Applied Science), Wachtberg
near Bonn, Germany. FGAN was founded in 1955, it maintains three
major institutes: 1) FHR (Research Institute for High---Frequency
Physics and Radar techniques), 2) FHIE (Research Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics), and 3) FOM
(Research Institute for Optronics and Pattern Recognition).
First GARP Global Experiment (campaign)
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (in honor of Joseph von Fraunhofer, 1787 --1826), a leading organization of applied research in Germany (HQ in
Munich). FhG operates 47 research institutes in Germany with about
8500 employees. About 2/3 of FhG research is through contracts for in-
_____________________
5905) Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768---1830) French mathematician (contemporary of Laplace, Lagrange, and
Monge). Fourier was elected to the Acadmie des Sciences in 1817. Inventor of the Fourier series and transform.
The Fourier transform is used in linear systems analysis, antenna studies, optics, random process modeling, probability theory, quantum physics, boundary---value problems, and in many other fields. The Fourier transform, a
pervasive and versatile tool, is used in many fields of science as a mathematical or physical tool to alter a problem
into one that can be more easily solved.
3398
FhG/FIRST . . . . .
FhG/IAF . . . . . . .
FhG/IFU . . . . . . .
FhG/IOF . . . . . . .
FhG/IPM . . . . . . .
FHT . . . . . . . . . . .
FIRAS . . . . . . . . .
FIRST . . . . . . . . .
FID . . . . . . . . . . .
FIFE . . . . . . . . . .
FILE . . . . . . . . . .
FIMR . . . . . . . . . .
FINCH . . . . . . . .
FINDS . . . . . . . . .
FIR . . . . . . . . . . .
FIRE . . . . . . . . . .
FIRESCAN . . . .
FIRESCHEME .
FLA . . . . . . . . . . .
FLINN . . . . . . . . .
FLIR . . . . . . . . . .
FLTSATCOM . . .
FM . . . . . . . . . . . .
FMC . . . . . . . . . .
FMCW . . . . . . . .
FMI . . . . . . . . . . .
FMS . . . . . . . . . . .
FNMOC . . . . . . .

dustry and government. There are also FhG institutes in USA and Asia.
Only a few institutes are listed here:
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft/Institut fr Rechnerarchitektur und Softwaretechnik (Institute of Computer Architecture and Information
Technology), Berlin Adlershof, Germany
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft/Institut fr Angewandte Festkrperphysik
(development of detectors), Freiburg, Germany
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft/Institut fr Atmosphren und Umweltforschung (Institute of Atmospheric and Environmental Research), Garmisch---Partenkirchen, Germany
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft/Institut fr Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik (Institute of Applied Optics and Precision Engineering), Jena,
Germany
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft/Institut fr Physikalische Messtechnik (Institute of Physical Measurement Techniques), Freiburg, Germany
Frequency Hopping Telemetry (a communication access method)
P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
(RAS), Moscow. FIRAS was established in 1967 as part of IKI. Since
1991 it is named AKTs FIRAS (radio astronomy)
Far Infrared Submillimeter Telescope (an astrophysics mission of ESA
with a planned launch in 2007). FIRST was renamed to Herschel Space
Observatory in 2002.
Flame Ionization Detector
First ISLSCP Field Experiment (campaign)
Feature Identification and Location Experiment (part of OSTA---1
payload on Shuttle STS---2 in Nov. 1981)
Finnish Institute of Marine Research (Helsinki, Finland)
Fresnel INcoherent Correlation Holography (a 3---D imaging technique invented by JHU/APL and Ben---Gurion University of the
Negev)
Foundation of the International Non---Governmental Development of
Space (USA, created in 1997)
Far infrared: from about 10 --- 1000 mm (note: 1000 mm = 1 mm)
First ISCCP Regional Experiment (campaign)
Fire Research Campaign Asia---North (IGBP---IGAC---BIBEX campaign)
Fire Information Systems Research in the Socio---Culture, History and
Ecology, of the Mediterranean Environment (campaign)
Film Lens Antenna (a new antenna architecture)
Fiducial Laboratories for an International Network (a global network
supporting Crustal Dynamics Test Sites)
Forward Looking Infrared (sensor)
Fleet Satellite Communications System (of DoD, USA). FLTSATCOM provides worldwide, high---priority UHF communications between naval aircraft, ships, submarines, and ground stations and between the Strategic Air Command and the national command authority
network. Fully operational in January 1981, the FLTSATCOM constellation is being replaced by the UFO (UHF Follow---On) spacecraft.
Frequency Modulation (modulation technique of the main carrier)
Forward Motion Compensation
Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave (a radar measurement technique to obtain range information --- a sequence of FMCW echoes contains both, range and Doppler information)
Finnish Meteorological Institute (Helsinki, Finland)
Flight Management System (avionics)
Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (of US Navy) at
Monterey, CA
3399
FOA . . . . . . . . . . . Frsvarets Forskningsanstalt (National Defense Research Establishment, Department of Information Technology, Linkpping, Sweden)
FOG . . . . . . . . . . . Fiber---Optic Gyroscope (an angular rate gyro)
FMI . . . . . . . . . Hungarian Remote Sensing Center, Budapest, Hungary
FOO . . . . . . . . . . . Flight of Opportunity
FOR . . . . . . . . . . . Field of Regard (total width of a ground imaging surface that is within
the pointing potential of a sensor. Note: the FOV (or swath width) is
always contained in the FOR)
FORTE . . . . . . . . Fast On---Orbit Recording of Transient Events (LANL, A.18)
FOS . . . . . . . . . . . Fiber Optic Sensor
FOV . . . . . . . . . . . Field of View
FPA . . . . . . . . . . . Focal Plane Array (also: Focal Plane Assembly --- detector assembly of
an imager instrument)
FPGA . . . . . . . . . Field Programmable Gate Array
FR . . . . . . . . . . . . Frame Relay (an IP transmission technique, the other is ATM)
FRAM . . . . . . . . . Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (a chip technology providing
non---volatile storage)
FREESTAR . . . . Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science, Technology, Applications & Research (Shuttle STS---107 Hitchhiker payload), see J.6
FREJA . . . . . . . . . Swedish Solar---Terrestrial Mission (K.13)
FSK . . . . . . . . . . . Frequency Shift Keying (modulation technique)
FSL . . . . . . . . . . . Femto---Second based Laser
FSUE / RISDE . . Federal State Unitary Enterprise / Russian Scientific Institute of Space
Device Engineering, Moscow, Russia (note: the Russian abbreviation
of FSUE/RISDE is RNIIKP)
FSW . . . . . . . . . . . Fanhui Shei Weixing (Chinese satellite class to support both military
and civilian Earth observation needs). FSW---3---2 was launched on
Aug. 29, 2004
FTAM . . . . . . . . . File Transfer Access and Management (OSI File Transfer Method)
FTFPV . . . . . . . . Flexible Thin---Film Photovoltaic (a solar cell technology)
FTIR . . . . . . . . . . Fourier Transform Infrared (radiometer or spectrometer)
FTS . . . . . . . . . . . Fourier Transform Spectrometer
FUV . . . . . . . . . . . Far Ultraviolet (spectral region 90 --- 125 nm)
FWG . . . . . . . . . . Forschungsanstalt der Bundeswehr fr Wasserschall und Geophysik
(Kiel, Germany)
FWHM . . . . . . . . Full---Width---Half---Maximum (of distribution curve)
FY . . . . . . . . . . . . FengYun, Chinese meteorological satellite series, G.3
FZJ . . . . . . . . . . . Forschungszentrum Jlich (Germany, old name was KfA)
FZK . . . . . . . . . . . Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Germany, old name was KfK)
FZK/IMK . . . . . . FZK (Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe)/Institut fr Meteorologie und
Klimaforschung (Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research)
G
Ga . . . . . . . . . . . . Gallium (detector material)
GaAs . . . . . . . . . . Gallium Arsenide (a material used for solar panels, for detectors, and
for fast computer chips)
GaIn . . . . . . . . . . . Galileo Industries SA, located in Brussels, Belgium (a joint venture of
Astrium, Alenia Spazio, and Alcatel Space, founded May 25, 2000) for
the development and manufacturing of Galileo satellites (European
Radionavigation System). Note: In 2006, Galileo Industries SA was renamed to ESNI (European Satellite Navigation Industries)
GaInP2 . . . . . . . . . Gallium Indium Phosphide (solar cell type)
GaN . . . . . . . . . . . Gallium Nitride compound---based semiconductor (used in GaN photoconductive detectors, etc.). GaN works better at much higher
voltages and temperatures than silicon or the widely---used gallium arsenide (GaAs). Significantly for space, GaN is also inherently radiation---resistant.
3400
GAC . . . . . . . . . . . Global Area Coverage (the term is used for AVHRR data of NOAA)
GAC . . . . . . . . . . . Global Aerospace Corporation (Altadena, CA)
GAF . . . . . . . . . . . Gesellschaft fr Angewandte Fernerkundung, Munich (since 1985,
German commercial distributor of Earth observation data, such as Resurs data, Landsat data, IRS---1C/D data (via EOSAT), representative
of EURIMAGE and SPOT---IMAGE in Germany, distributor for SOVINFORMSPUTNIK data, Radarsat data distributor for Germany,
etc.
GABLE . . . . . . . . Global Atmospheric Backscatter Lidar Experiment (campaign)
GADACS . . . . . . GPS Attitude Determination and Control Experiment (a GSFC GPS
instrument package on Shuttle SPARTAN)
GADFLY . . . . . . . GPS Attitude Determination Flyer (experiment on Lewis S/C)
GAGAN . . . . . . . GPS Aided Geo---Augmented Navigation system (SBAS of ISRO to
provide coverage for the region of India)
GAIM . . . . . . . . . Global Analysis, Interpretation and Modeling (IGBP project)
GAIM . . . . . . . . . Global Assimilation of Ionospheric Measurements (model)
GALE . . . . . . . . . Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (airborne campaign in 1986)
Galileo Avionica . Galileo Avionica Space Equipment B.U. (a Finemeccanica Company),
Campi Bisenzio (Firenze), Italy
Galileo Industries Galileo Industries SA is a European joint venture of the following companies(to define and build the Galileo System): Alenia Spazio of
Rome, Alcatel Space of Paris, Astrium Ltd. of Stevenage, UK, and Astrium GmbH of Friedrichshafen, Germany.
GAME . . . . . . . . . GEWEX---related Asian Monsoon Experiment (campaign)
GAMES . . . . . . . Gravity and Magnetic Earth Surveyor (a NASA/GSFC mission)
GANDER . . . . . . Global Altimeter Network Designed to Evaluate Risk (an SSTL, UK
constellation planned to be launched in 2002)++++
GANE . . . . . . . . . GPS Attitude Navigation Experiment (NASA Shuttle payload)
GARP . . . . . . . . . Global Atmospheric Research Program (of WMO, since 1968)
GAS . . . . . . . . . . . Get---Away Special (Shuttle canisters)
GATE . . . . . . . . . GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment (campaign)
GAUSS . . . . . . . . Galaktische Ultraweitwinkel Schmidt System, Shuttle payload (Galactic super wide angle Schmidt system)
GAUSS . . . . . . . . Galileo and UMTS Synergetic System (an integrated user terminal
demonstrator capable of supporting the required navigation and communications functions)
GAW . . . . . . . . . . Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO)
GBA . . . . . . . . . . GAS Bridge Assembly (Shuttle payload)
GBAS . . . . . . . . . (GNSS) Ground Based Augmentation System
GBRN . . . . . . . . . Global Baseline Radiation Network (WCRP)
GC . . . . . . . . . . . . Gas Chromatograph
GCIP . . . . . . . . . . GEWEX Continental---Scale International Project
GCM . . . . . . . . . . General Circulation Model (atmosphere, ocean, climate, exchange at
boundaries, global water cycle, etc.)
GCMD . . . . . . . . Global Change Master Directory (at NASA/GSFC since 1989)
GCOM . . . . . . . . Global Change Observation Mission (NASDA)
GCOS . . . . . . . . . Global Climate Observing System (of WMO, IOC, UNEP, and ICSU,
established in 1992)
GCOS/JSTC . . . . GCOS/Joint Scientific and Technical Committee (Geneva, Switzerland)
GCP . . . . . . . . . . . Glow Cryoph Payload (DoD Shuttle payload)
GCR . . . . . . . . . . Galactic Cosmic Rays (they are coming from outside the solar system --somewhere in the Milky Way or in others galaxies). These particles are
charged and very energetic, with a typical energy range of 1 MeV to 1
GeV, and more rarely 1 TeV.
GCRP . . . . . . . . . Global Climate Research Program (of WMO)
GCTE . . . . . . . . . Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystem (IGBP core program)
3401
GDGPS . . . . . . . . Global Differential GPS (NASA ground network for real---time orbit
determination). The GDGPS network is managed by JPL and contains
global and regional real---time data from hundreds of GPS sites and estimates their positions every second. It can detect ground motions as
small as a few centimeters.
GE . . . . . . . . . . . . General Electric Co., Fairchild, CT, USA
GE Americom . . GE American Communications Inc. (in 2001 GE Americom of Princeton, NJ, was acquired by SES Astra of Luxembourg)
Ge . . . . . . . . . . . . Germanium (detector material)
GeGa . . . . . . . . . . Germanium Gallium (detector)
GEIA . . . . . . . . . . Global Emissions Inventory Activity (IGBP/IGAC focus 6 activity)
GEMINI . . . . . . . NASA program of the 1960s
GEMINUS . . . . . Galileo European Multimodal Integrated Navigation User Service
GEMS . . . . . . . . . Global Environment Monitoring System (of UNEP)
GENESI---DR . . Ground European Network for Earth Science Interoperations --- Digital Repositories (a single access point to Earth science data)
GENIE . . . . . . . . Ground---based European Nulling Interferometer Experiment (using
ESOs VLT in Chile (a collection of four 8 m diameter telescopes)
GENSO . . . . . . . . Global Educational Network for Satellite Operations. GENSO, a project under auspices of ISEB (International Space Education Board),
ESAs Education Office is one of the sponsors, is a software standard
which allows each ground station on the network to communicate with
non---local spacecraft and share data with the spacecraft controllers via
the internet. The spacecraft use generally the AX25 protocol in telemetry.
GFRP . . . . . . . . . Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (a low---mass building material which
has a very high strength to mass ratio)
GEO . . . . . . . . . . Geostationary Earth Orbit [a geosynchronous orbit with zero inclination (orbit is in the equator plane and circular), the altitude is about
35,786 km]
GEO . . . . . . . . . . Group on Earth Observations (created on July 31, 2003; an international intergovernmental initiative with the goal of furthering the creation
of a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained Earth observing system or systems). See also GEOSS
GeoEye . . . . . . . . As of Jan. 2006, a commercial imaging company made up of former Orbimage of Dulles VA, and of Space Imaging of Thornton, CO (Orbimage acquired Space Imaging in 2005 and gave the merged company
the new name of GeoEye). The new company has HQs in Dulles, VA.
GEODE . . . . . . . GPS Enhanced Orbit Determination Experiment (a GSFC---developed flight navigation software package --- an extended Kalman filter
processor that incorporates accurate models of dynamics and measurements to optimize incorporation of GPS measurements). GEODE is a
powerful real---time satellite orbit determination software suite.
GeoLITE . . . . . . . Geosynchronous Lightweight Technology Experiment (NRO funded
communications satellite, launch May 18, 2001, design life of 9 years).
GeoLITE features an advanced laser communications experiment
(tests for 15 months).
GEO---IK . . . . . . Russian S/C for solid Earth research, E.5
GEOINT . . . . . . . Geospatial Intelligence (the intelligence community uses this term to
describe, assess, analyse, and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on the Earth. GEOINT data sources
include imagery and mapping data, whether collected by commercial
satellite, government satellite, aircraft, or other means. GEOINT is a
new discipline that builds on: imagery analysis, photo interpretation,
cartography, geography, and much more.
GEOKhl RAN . . Vernadskiy Institute for Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry of
RAN, Moscow; since 1947, participation in programs: Luna, Venera,
Salyut, MIR, Vega, Phobos, Voyager, Magellan, Mars Observer
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GEOMAR . . . . . Research Center for Marine Geosciences (U. of Kiel, Germany)

GEONETCast . . A near real---time, global network of satellite---based data dissemination systems designed to distribute spaceborne, airborne and in situ data, metadata and products to diverse communities (in particular among
the meteorological community). As of 2006, GEONETCast is an initiative of GEOSS. NOAA, EUMETSAT and WMO are co---lead members in the organizational structure.
GEOS . . . . . . . . . Geostationary Satellite (ESA experimental program) E.6
GEOS . . . . . . . . . Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite, E.7
GEOS---3 . . . . . . . Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite, E.7.3 (GEOS---3 is the
first radar altimeter mission, end of mission in 1978)
GEOS&R . . . . . . Geostationary Search and Rescue (system, a payload on GEO S/C)
GEOSAT . . . . . . . US Navy satellite (altimeter mission), E.8
GEOSS . . . . . . . . Global Earth Observation System of Systems. GEOSS is an international framework to develop a 10---year implementation plan, a comprehensive, coordinated and sustained system that will help to better
understand Earth systems, including weather, climate, oceans, geology,
and ecosystems. The GEOSS document was signed at a summit in Tokyo, on April 25, 2004. Representatives of 47 countries and more than a
dozen international organizations (UN, ESA, EC, ISCU, WMO, etc.)
were present at the GEO (Group on Earth Observations) summit, signing the document (the finalization of a draft implementation plan).
GEOTAIL . . . . . . Japanese (ISAS) mission to study the structure and dynamics of the
geomagnetic tail (part of ISTP), K.15
GEOWARN . . . . Global Emergency Observation Warning and Relief Network (in planning phase by NASA/MSFC, etc.)
GER . . . . . . . . . . Geophysical & Environmental Research Corp. (Millbrook, NY, USA)
GEWEX . . . . . . . Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (WMO program, since
1988, --- to observe and model the hydrologic cycle and energy fluxes in
the atmosphere, and at the land and ocean surface)
GFLOPS . . . . . . . Billion Floating Point Operations per Second (109 --- a measure of computer processing power)
GETEX . . . . . . . . German Technology Experiment on ETS VII (1999)
GFO---1 . . . . . . . . Geosat Follow---On (Satellite), E.9
GFU . . . . . . . . . . . Geophysical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague
GFZ . . . . . . . . . . . GeoForschungsZentrum (Potsdam, Germany, since 1992). Note: A renaming of GFZ took place on June 17, 2008. The new name is: Helmholtz---Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ
(German Research Center for Geosciences)
GGN . . . . . . . . . . Global GPS Network (of NASA, consisting of more than 60 dual---frequency GPS geodetic reference stations)
GGOS . . . . . . . . . Global Geodetic Observing System (since 2003)
GGS . . . . . . . . . . . Global Geospace Science (US program within ISTP with two spacecraft: Wind and Polar)
GGSE . . . . . . . . . Gravity Gradient Stabilization Experiment. A technology satellite series (GGSE---1 to GGSE---5) launched by the US military (NRL of
DoD) from Vandenberg AFB aboard Thor Agena---D rockets.
GGSE---1 (39 kg mass): launch Jan. 11, 1964 into a 900 km altitude orbit
with an inclination of 69.9; GGSE---2 and GGSE---3 (each S/C of 4 kg
mass): launch March 9, 1965; GGSE---4 and ---5 (each S/C of 4 kg mass):
launch May 31, 1967
GGTS---1 . . . . . . . Gravity Gradient Test Satellite---1 (of the USAF was launched June 16,
1966 from Cape Canaveral)
GHCC . . . . . . . . . Global Hydrology and Climate Center (at NASA/MSFC, Huntsville)
GHCD . . . . . . . . . Growth Hormone Crystal Distribution (Shuttle experiment)
GIAC . . . . . . . . . . GPS Interagency Advisory Council
3403
GIE . . . . . . . . . . . Gridded Ion Engine (electric propulsion)

GIF . . . . . . . . . . . Graphics Interchange Format of Compuserve (8---bit color format,
used in HTML, etc.)
GIM . . . . . . . . . . . Global Integration and Modeling (IGBP/IGAC focus 6 activity)
GIMEX . . . . . . . . Greenland Ice Margin Experiment (campaign)
GIOVE . . . . . . . . Galileo In---Orbit Validation Element (a 2 S/C mission of ESA,
GIOVE---A is being built by SSTL, GIOVE---B is being built by Galileo
Industries)
GIPME . . . . . . . . Global Investigation of Pollution in the Marine Environment
GIS . . . . . . . . . . . . Geographic Information System (an archive in particular for forestry
data)
GISP . . . . . . . . . . Greenland Ice Sheet Project
GISS . . . . . . . . . . Goddard Institute for Space Studies (New York, NY, since 1961 --- a
NASA/GSFC facility at Columbia University)
GIST . . . . . . . . . . Globalizing and Internationalizing ORS Standards and Technology (a
DoD program that allows international collaboration to develop ORS
standards)
GISTDA . . . . . . . Geo---Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, Bangkok, Thailand
GKSS . . . . . . . . . . Gesellschaft fr Kernergieverwertung in Schiffbau und Schiffahrt
(Geesthacht, Germany)
GLAS . . . . . . . . . . Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (previously GLRS)
GLAST . . . . . . . . Gamma---ray Large Aerea Space Telescope (NASA mission), Note:
NASA renamed the GLAST mission to Fermi Gamma---ray Space Telescope as of August 26, 2008
GLIS . . . . . . . . . . Global Land Information System (an online land data directory guide,
a public information system operated by USGS at EROS Data Center)
Glavkosmos . . . . . Russian space organization agency with the objective to develop the
commercial side of space activities (created in 1985)
GLO . . . . . . . . . . Glow Experiment (Shuttle payload)
GLOBE . . . . . . . . Global Backscatter Experiment (campaign)
GLOBEC . . . . . . Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics (since 1991). GLOBEC is one of 9
core programs of IGBP (International Geosphere---Biosphere Program), an interdisciplinary scientific activity established and sponsored
by the International Council for Science (ICSU).
GLOBSAT . . . . . Proposed Earth Observation Satellite by the French Earth Science
Community.
GLOCARB . . . . . Global Tropospheric Carbon Dioxide Network (IGBP/IGAC program)
GLOCHEM . . . . Global Atmospheric Chemistry Survey (IGBP/IGAC program)
GLOMR . . . . . . . Global Low Orbiting Message Relay (DARPA S/C flown on
STS---61A)
GLONASS . . . . . Global Orbiting and Navigation Satellite System (USSR), H.4, GLONASS (GLObalnaya NAvigatisionnay Sputnikovaya Sistema)
GLONET . . . . . . Global Tropospheric Ozone Network (IGBP/IGAC program)
GLOSS . . . . . . . . Global Sea Level Observing System (of IOC)
GLRS . . . . . . . . . Geoscience Laser Ranging System (EOS Sensor), renamed in 1992
GLAS = Geoscience Laser Altimeter System
GLS . . . . . . . . . . . GBAS Landing System
GMES . . . . . . . . . Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (European initiative)
GMS . . . . . . . . . . Geostationary Meteorological Satellite, Operational Program of JMA
(Japan Meteorological Agency), F.3
GMSEC . . . . . . . . GSFC Mission Services Evolution Center. A NASA message bus architecture established in 2001 to coordinate ground and flight data systems
development and services at GSFC.
GMSK . . . . . . . . . Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (modulation technique)
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GMV . . . . . . . . . . GMV S. A. is a subsidiary of the holding group Grupo Tecnolgico e

Industrial GMV S. A. (Grupo GMV). Grupo GMV is a fully Spanish,
privately owned company established in 1984.
GN&C . . . . . . . . . Guidance Navigation and Control
GNSS . . . . . . . . . . Global Navigation Satellite System (a future civil satellite navigation
system)
GNSS---R . . . . . . GNSS---Reflections. Refers to reflected GNSS (signals) observables
from the open ocean or land surface (to be measured by an airborne or
spaceborne instrument). The GNSS---R signals may be used in a wide
field of applications (altimetry, soil moisture, sea state monitoring,
etc.).
GOALS . . . . . . . . Global Ocean---Atmosphere---Land System (CLIVAR subprogram)
GOBEX . . . . . . . Gotland Basin Experiment (campaign)
GOCE . . . . . . . . . Gravity Field and Steady---State Ocean Circulation Experiment (core
mission in ESAs Earth Explorer Program)
GOCINA . . . . . . . Geoid and Ocean Circulation In the North Atlantic [GOCINA is an
EU FP5 project with the objectives: a) determination of the geoid, b)
determination of the mean sea surface, and c) determination of the
mean dynamic topography. Use of Envisat and GOCE data]
GODAE . . . . . . . Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (since 1997) GODAE
aims at to demonstrate the benefits and utility of operational ocean
products for a wide range of applications. GODAE requires high spatial and temporal resolution SST (Sea Surface Temperature) data in
real---time to properly constrain the upper ocean circulation and thermal structure. The GHRSST---PP (GODAE High---Resolution SST--Pilot Project) was established to address this need.
GOES . . . . . . . . . Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (NOAA Series),
F.4
GOFS . . . . . . . . . Global Ocean Flux Study (program)
GOIN . . . . . . . . . Global Information Network (a cooperative project between the USA
and Japan for the exchange of observational data, initiated in 1993)
GOLD . . . . . . . . . Gossamer Orbit Lowering Device
GOMAS . . . . . . . Geostationary Observatory for Microwave Atmospheric Sounding (a
proposed project of ESA)
GOMS . . . . . . . . . Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (Russian geostationary meteorological satellite series (at longitude 76 deg. East), F.5
GOOS . . . . . . . . . Global Ocean Observing System [a joint program of IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission), WMO (World Meteorological
Organization), UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program), and
the International Council for Science]. GOOS integrates real---time
in---situ and satellite observations with numerical model to form model---based information products for a variety of applications. The initial
GOOS was formed in 1991. European GOOS (EuroGOOS) was
formed in 1994 as one of several regional GOOS activities.
GOP . . . . . . . . . . . Groups of Pictures. In MPEG encoding, a GOP specifies the order in
which intra---frames and inter frames are arranged. The GOP is a group
of successive pictures within an MPEG---coded video stream.
GORC . . . . . . . . . Global Ocean Carbon Research Program
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Organization of Remote Sensing (since 1986, Damascus, Syria), Space Agency of Syria
GOS . . . . . . . . . . . Global Observing System (WWW)
GOSAMR---1 . . . Gelatin of Sols: Applied Microgravity Research---1 (Shuttle experiment)
GOSIP . . . . . . . . . Government Open System Interconnection Profile ( US Government
Standard, GOSIP is a subset of OSI)
GOSNIIAS . . . . . State Research Institute of Aviation Systems (Moscow, Russia)
GP---B . . . . . . . . . Gravity Probe---B Relativity Mission (E.12)
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GPCC . . . . . . . . . Global Precipitation Climatology Center, (since 1988, located at the

German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach, Germany, collection
of raingage---measured monthly precipitation data, worldwide)
GPCP . . . . . . . . . . Global Precipitation Climatology Project (by ICSU and WMO)
GPM . . . . . . . . . . Global Precipitation Measurement (a NASA/NASDA follow---on multi---satellite constellation mission to TRMM with international cooperation, in planning stage as of 2001)
GPRS . . . . . . . . . . General Packet Radio Services [A packet---based wireless communication service that promises data rates from 56 --- 114 kbit/s and continuous connection to the Internet for mobile phone and computer users.
The higher data rates permit users to take part in video conferences and
interact with multimedia Web sites and similar applications using mobile handheld devices as well as notebook computers. GPRS is based on
Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication and will complement existing services such circuit---switched cellular phone connections and the Short Message Service (SMS)].Phase 1 of GPRS became
commercially available in 2000/1.
GPS . . . . . . . . . . . Global Positioning System, H.5
GPS DTO . . . . . . GPS Development Test Objective (Shuttle payload)
GRACE . . . . . . . . Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
GRAS . . . . . . . . . Ground Regional Augmentation System (of Australia)
GRAS . . . . . . . . . GNSS Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding (receiver on MetOp, etc.)
GRB . . . . . . . . . . Gamma Ray Burst (GRBs represent the strongest radiative energy
phenomena in the universe known to astronomers)
GRDC . . . . . . . . . Global Runoff Data Center (Bundesanstalt fr Gewsserkunde --- Federal Institute of Hydrology, Koblenz, Germany). GRDC operates under the auspices of WMO with funding provided by Germany.
GRGS . . . . . . . . . Groupe de Recherches de Godsie Spatiale (Grasse and Toulouse,
France)
GRID . . . . . . . . . (UNEP) Global Resources Information Database (at EDC) for the
purpose of analyzing environmental data
GRIP . . . . . . . . . . Greenland Icecore Project
GRO . . . . . . . . . . Global Radio Occultation (technique)
GRSS . . . . . . . . . . Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society
GSA . . . . . . . . . . . GNSS Supervisory Agency (Europe). GSA is a legal entity to sign Galileo contracts and oversee the Galileo infrastructure and operations on
behalf of the public interest. Also management of signal certification
and system security.
GSC . . . . . . . . . . . Geological Survey of Canada
GSCB . . . . . . . . . . Ground Segment Coordination Body (an ESA group established in
2005 and composed of member---state agencies managing EO data
ground segments). A first task of GSCB is to coordinate the ground segment and data management of the most important European and Canadian EO missions during the lifetime of GMES. A main objective is
the harmonization of the ground segments at the European level (joint
interoperability standards for seamless and harmonized access to heterogeneous EO datasets).
GSCDA . . . . . . . . GMES Space Component Data Access (also spelling of GSC---DA).
GSCDA is an ESA project started in 2007 to provide standard interface
services to data archives.
GSD . . . . . . . . . . . Ground---Sampling Distance (spatial resolution).
GSE . . . . . . . . . . . GMES Services Element (ESA)
GSFC . . . . . . . . . . Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, USA. GSFC was
named in honor of the US physicist Robert H. Goddard (1882---1945), a
pioneer of modern rocket propulsion (along with Konstantin Eduordovich Tsiolkovsky of Russia and Hermann Oberth of Germany)
GSI . . . . . . . . . . . . Geological Survey Institute (Japan)
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GSLV . . . . . . . . . . Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (a three---stage ISRO

launcher, since 1999, of PSLV heritage)
GSM . . . . . . . . . . Global System for Mobiles (digital cellular standard of ETSI, 2nd generation). The GSM network is terrestrial and practically global in its
coverage. In 1989, GSM responsibility was transferred to ETSI
(European Telecommunication Standards Institute).
GSO . . . . . . . . . . . Geosynchronous Orbit [refers to a S/C with an orbital period matching
the rotation rate of the Earth (sidereal day), the orbital plane and shape
are of general nature)
GSOC . . . . . . . . . German Space Operations Center (DLR facility in Oberpfaffenhofen,
Germany)
GSSAC . . . . . . . . German Space Situational Awareness Center (since 2009)
GSTB . . . . . . . . . . Galileo System Test Bed --- a ground segment and a space segment (with
regard to the space segment, it refers to 2 satellites of the European
Galileo navigation system). One test satellite, GSTB---V2/A, is being
built by SSTL, UK; the other S/C, GSTB---V2/B, is being built by the
Galileo Industries consortium. The GSTB is subdivided into two main
development steps, Version 1 (V1) and Version 2 (V2). The V2 part
deals with the satellites, while the V1 part deals with such issues as integrity, orbit determination and time synchronization, algorithms, etc.
GSTDN . . . . . . . . Ground---Station Tracking and Data Network (old NASA network)
G/T . . . . . . . . . . . . (receiver) Gain / (noise) Temperature
GTCP . . . . . . . . . . Global Tropospheric Chemistry Program (NSF program)
GTE . . . . . . . . . . . Global Tropospheric Experiment (a NASA program)
GTE/CITE . . . . . Global Tropospheric Experiment/Chemical Instrumentation Test and
Evaluation (campaigns)
GTO . . . . . . . . . . . Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
GTOS . . . . . . . . . Global Terrestrial Observing System (WMO, UNESCO, IOC, FAO,
ICSU)
GTRF . . . . . . . . . Galileo Terrestrial Reference Frame (coordinate system of the European radionavigation system)
GTRI . . . . . . . . . . Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, GA
GTS . . . . . . . . . . . Global Telecommunications System (of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO))
GULFEX . . . . . . Gulf Experiment (campaign)
H
H2 O . . . . . . . . . . .
H2O2 . . . . . . . . . .
HAALDM . . . . . .
HALCA . . . . . . . .
HALE . . . . . . . . .
HAPEX . . . . . . . .
HaRP . . . . . . . . . .
HBr . . . . . . . . . . .
HBT . . . . . . . . . . .
HCMM . . . . . . . .
HCHO . . . . . . . . .
HCl . . . . . . . . . . .
HCT . . . . . . . . . . .
HDDT . . . . . . . . .
HDP . . . . . . . . . . .
HDT . . . . . . . . . .
HDTV . . . . . . . . .
HDLC . . . . . . . . .
Water
Hydrogen peroxide
High Accuracy Absolute Long Distance Metrology
Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy (a
SVLBI satellite of ISAS, Japan, Launch Feb. 12, 1997)
High Altitude Long Endurance (campaign)
Hydrologic and Atmospheric Pilot Experiment (campaign)
Hawaiian Rainbow Project (campaign)
Hydrogen bromide
Heflex Bioengineering Test (Shuttle)
Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (NASA sensor), A.21
(CH2O) Formaldehyde
Hydrogen chloride
HgCdTe (detector type, see also MCT)
High Density Digital Tape
Human Dimensions Programme (of ISSC)
High Density Tape
High---Definition Television (a standard)
High---Level Data Link Control (bit---oriented protocol)
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HEB . . . . . . . . . . Hot Electron Bolometer (receiver type used in microwave spectrometers, etc.)
HELCOM . . . . . . Helsinki Commission (since 1974, an intergovernmental organization
of all countries surrounding the Baltic Sea to protect the Baltic Sea)
HELIOS---I . . . . . A European military optical reconnaissance satellite project (Earth observation) sponsored by France (78.9%), Italy (14.1%) and Spain (7%).
Helios---IA was launched July 7, 1995. Helios---IB was launched Dec. 3,
1999 on an Ariane 4 vehicle from Kourou. Both satellites were built by
MMS of Toulouse. Helios---IB, nearly an identical twin of Helios---IA,
has a launch mass of 2544 kg (design life of 5 years, power = 2.2 kW).
The Helios S/C bus is almost identical to the SPOT---4 platform. Attitude is measured by star sensors and two---axis gyros, actuators are reaction wheels and magnetic torquers. Both S/C are in a sun---synchronous
orbit (altitude = 680 km, inclination =98, period = 98 minutes), 180
apart to optimize coverage. The optical imaging system is referred to as
EPV (Ensemble de Prise de Vues), built by Alcatel Space, it uses CCD
line array detectors and provides a spatial resolution of about 1 m. On--board storage is provided by two digital tape recorders for each S/C,
each with a capacity of 120 Gbit. Helios---IB has in addition a solid state
memory of 9 Gbit. All imagery is encrypted and downlinked in X---band
at 50 Mbit/s (TT&C encrypted in S---band at 2 kbit/s). CNES provides
S/C operations from Toulouse. The Helios ground segment comprises
three user centers at Creil (Italy), Madrid (Spain), and CPFH (Main
Helios Center France). Imagery is received at ground stations of the
three partner countries [Maspalomas (Spain), Colmar (France), and
Lecce (Italy)]. 5906)
HELIOS---II . . . . Second generation of European military reconnaissance satellites (successor to Helios---1B) sponsored by France (DGA), Italy, Spain and
Belgium (S/C built by Astrium). As of 2002 two new Helios S/C are under construction, Helios---IIA and ---IIB, with the first to be ready for
launch in late 2004, if needed (each S/C has a mass of 4200 kg, EADS
Astrium as prime contractor). The new EVP optical instrument of Alcatel features a higher spatial resolution and a higher spectral range (including an IR band) than the first generation instrument.
Helios . . . . . . . . . A NASA---sponsored aircraft, a prototype ultra---lightweight solar--electric flying wing. First test flight in Aug. 2001. Helios has a capability
to serve as a platform for high---altitude environmental monitoring.
Helios---1 . . . . . . . A German space probe of DFVLR, launched Dec. 10, 1974 into a solar
orbit.
Helios---2 . . . . . . . A German space probe of DFVLR, launched Jan. 15, 1976 into a solar
orbit.
HELSTF . . . . . . . High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility [a US DoD national test facility at WSMR (White Sands Missile Range), NM, supporting laser research, development, test and evaluation. HELSTF was established in
1985 as a tri---service test and evaluation facility for all high energy laser
work. MIRACL (Mid---Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser ) is located
at WSMR]
HEMT . . . . . . . . . High Electron Mobility Transistor (receiver type for microwave
spectrometers)
HEO . . . . . . . . . . Highly---elliptical Earth Orbit
HERCULES . . . . Hand---held, Earth---oriented, Real---time, Cooperative, User--friendly, Location---targeting and Environmental System (Shuttle experiment)
HES . . . . . . . . . . . Hitchhiker Ejection System. HES provides a capability to eject a payload from a GAS (Get Away Special) canister on Shuttle.
_____________________
5906) Helios, Europes eye in the sky, CNES Magazine, No 7, Nov. 1999
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HES . . . . . . . . . . . Hyperspectral Environmental Suite (GOES---R instrument in study/

planning phase by NOAA and NASA) Note: the former name of HES
was ABS (Advanced Baseline Sounder)
HESS . . . . . . . . . . High---Latitude Ecosystems as Sources and Sinks of Trace Gases
(IGBP/IGAC)
HETE . . . . . . . . . High Energy Transient Experiment (MIT payload, built by AeroAstro
of Herndon, VA)
HEW . . . . . . . . . . Half Energy Width (of the point response), an angular resolution measurement in X---ray observations.
HF . . . . . . . . . . . . High Frequency (3 --- 30 MHz band)
HF . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrogen fluoride
HgCdTe . . . . . . . . Mercury Cadmium Telluride (mercadtelluride, a detector material)
also referred to as MCT and HCT
HgI2 . . . . . . . . . . . Mercury Iodine (a detector material)
HGF . . . . . . . . . . . Hermann von Helmholtz---Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren, Bonn (named after Hermann von Helmholtz, 1821 --- 1894). Sixteen German research centers are members of HGF, an association
with the objective to coordinate and foster interdisciplinary research, to
share expensive technical equipment of their infrastructure, to cooperate on long---term system solutions, and to transfer new technology for
industrial applications. All HGF centers are government---funded, they
employ a total of about 23,000 persons with a budget of 3.6 billion DM
in 1996. The following institutions are members of HGF:
AWI (Alfred---Wegener---Institut fr Polar--- und Meeresforschung,
since 1980, Bremerhaven and Potsdam)
DESY (Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron, Hamburg, since 1959)
DKFZ (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, since 1964)
DLR (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fr Luft--- und Raumfahrt)
FZK (Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe)
GBF (Gesellschaft fr Biotechnologische Forschung, Braunschweig)
GFZ (GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, since 1992)
GKSS (Gesellschaft fr Kernergieverwertung in Schiffbau und Schiffahrt, Geesthacht)
GMD (Gesellschaft fr Mathematik und Datenverarbeitung, since
1968, German National Research Center of Information Technology,
St. Augustin, and Darmstadt)
GSF (Forschungszentrum fr Umwelt und Gesundheit, Neuherberg)
GSI (Gesellschaft fr Schwerionenforschung, Darmstadt)
HMI (Hahn---Meitner---Institut, Berlin)
IPP (Max---Planck---Institut fr Plasmaphysik, Garching)
KFA (Forschungszentrum Jlich)
MDC (Max---Delbrck---Zentrum fr Molekulare Medizin, Berlin)
UFZ (Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig---Halle)
HH . . . . . . . . . . . . Hitchhiker (a Shuttle flight carrier system offered by NASA for small
payloads, offering the provision of extended functional features) HH--S stands for sidewall mounting, HH---C stands for cross bay mounting
HH . . . . . . . . . . . . Horizontal transmit --- Horizontal receive polarization
HILAT . . . . . . . . . High Latitude Satellite (a US military satellite of the USAF with a
launch date of Jun. 27, 1983 from VAFB, 754 km perigee, 818 km apogee, inclination = 82). HILAT was a space technology mission. AIM
(Auroral Ionospheric Mapper) built by APL was one of its sensors.
HIP . . . . . . . . . . . Heterojunction Internal Photoemission (detector technology)
HiPER . . . . . . . . . High Power Electric propulsion: a Roadmap for the future (a project
co---funded by the EU within the FP7 program). Three different EP
concepts are considered as the candidates with the highest application
potential: Hall Effect Thruster (HET), Gridded Ion Engines (GIE)
and MagnetoPlasmaDynamic Thrusters (MPDT)
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HIVAC . . . . . . . . Highly Integrated Video Acquisition Chain. An ESA project with the
objective to develop on the same die and based on a commercial technology: a) Front---end functions to accommodate CCD and APS detectors; b) Analog---to---Digital Conversion function; c) Digital Interfaces to a SpaceWire network. Within the framework of HIVAC, an
ASIC is developed called VASP (Video Acquisition Signal Processor).
HMA . . . . . . . . . . Heterogeneous Mission Access (a technique which is being implemented for the ground segment of the GMES program in Europe to accomplish coherent access to archives to support scientific exploitation like
the Climate Change Initiative). HMA is being implemented by ESA,
DLR, CNES, EUMETSAT, MDA (RADARSAT), INTA, etc.
HNO3 . . . . . . . . . Nitric acid
HOx (HOx) . . . . . Odd hydrogen (OH, HO2, H2O2)
HOCl . . . . . . . . . . Hypochlorous acid
HOLOP . . . . . . . . Holographic Optics Laboratory (Shuttle D2 mission)
HOST . . . . . . . . . HST Orbital Systems Test Platform (Shuttle payload)
HPBW . . . . . . . . . Half Power Beam Width
HPCG . . . . . . . . . Hand---held Protein Crystal Growth (Shuttle payload)
HPP . . . . . . . . . . . Heat Pipe Performance (Shuttle experiment)
HPT . . . . . . . . . . . Heterojunction Phototransistor (optoelectronic component which
combines both optical detection and electrical gain in a single element)
HPTE . . . . . . . . . High Precision Tracking Experiment (Shuttle payload)
HRG . . . . . . . . . . Hemispherical Resonant Gyroscope (an inertial pointing device)
HRIT . . . . . . . . . . High Rate Information Transmission (a standard digital broadcast service used in meteorological satellites)
HRPT . . . . . . . . . High Resolution Picture Transmission (NOAA broadcast technique in
S---band at frequencies of 1698.0 and 1707.0 MHz; data from all
AVHRR channels (plus TOVS and SEM) is provided at full 1.1 km resolution)
HRSGS---A . . . . . High Resolution Shuttle Glow Spectroscopy (Shuttle payload)
HRTI---3 . . . . . . . High Resolution Terrain. Information---3 [a high---precision DEM
(Digital Elevation Model)]
HRTS . . . . . . . . . . High Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph (Shuttle, Spacelab---2, a
30 cm, f/15 Gregorian telescope, spectrograph in UV range 1170---1700
, and a spectroheliograph observing at 1550 )
HRWS . . . . . . . . . High Resolution Wide Swath (a new SAR concept under definition in
2007 to obtain wide swath observations as well as high resolution SAR
imagery)
HSC . . . . . . . . . . . Hughes Space & Communications Company (since 1961), an operating
unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation, Los Angeles, CA. HSC is a
manufacturer (world leader) of communication satellites (over 40% of
market share). Provider of several standard platforms like HS 376 for
spin---stabilized satellites, the HS 601 series is body---stabilized; in 1995
HSC introduced the body---stabilized HS 702 platform. Manufacturer
of Syncom (first communications satellite, launch 1963), ATS---1 (first
GEO weather satellite, launch in 1966), Pioneer (Venus Probe, 1978),
Galileo (Jupiter Probe, launch 1989). Military satellite builder. --- In
January 2000, the HSC along with subsidiaries Hughes Electron Dynamics and Spectrolab were sold to the Boeing Company. They were
reorganized into a business unit called Boeing Satellite Systems
(BSS).
HSCT . . . . . . . . . . High---Speed Civil Transport (USA)
HSO . . . . . . . . . . . Herschel Space Observatory [an ESA astrophysics mission with a
planned launch in 2007, formerly known as FIRST (Far Infrared Submillimeter Telescope), operational orbit at Lagrangian point L2]
HSSS . . . . . . . . . . Hamilton Sundstand Sensor Systems, Pomona, CA (the parent company of HSSS is United Technologies Corporation)
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HST . . . . . . . . . . .
HSRP . . . . . . . . . .
HTML . . . . . . . . .
HTS . . . . . . . . . . .
HTSQUID . . . . .
HTTP . . . . . . . . . .
HTV . . . . . . . . . . .
Hughes . . . . . . . .
Hughes (HAC) . .
HUT . . . . . . . . . .
HUT . . . . . . . . . .
HV . . . . . . . . . . . .
HYDROMET . .
HypSEO . . . . . . .
HWRP . . . . . . . . .

Hubble Space Telescope (Shuttle launch)
High---Speed Research Program (NASA)
HyperText Markup Language
High---(Tc) Temperature Superconductivity, refers to material temperature Tc levels above those of liquid helium [the technology is employed
in sensor design, thin---film applications, MRI (Magnetic Resonance
Imaging), wireless communication filters, and ultra---fast computer
chips]
High---(Tc) Temperature SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device)
HyperText Transfer Protocol
H---II Transfer Vehicle of JAXA. HTV is an ISS transfer vehicle, a
Japanese---built automated, unmanned cargo vehicle to deliver supplies to ISS. HTV does not provide an automated docking system.
Hence, on arrival at ISS, HTV requires docking assistance from the ISS
using the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System). The
first flight of HTV is planned for 2009.
Hughes Electronics Corporation, a worldwide operating company with
HQ in Los Angeles, CA (a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors
Corporation founded in 1985). The conglomerate consists of: Hughes
Aircraft Company, Hughes Telecommunications & Space (largest
manufacturer in the world of telecommunication satellites), Hughes
Network Systems, DIRECTV Inc., and Delco Electronics Corporation. HSC is part of Hughes Telecommunications & Space. In 2000,
Hughes Electronics Corporation sold its satellite manufacturing business to Boeing Company.
Hughes Aircraft Company, (since 1932, founded by Howard Hughes),
part of Hughes Electronics Corporation, with HQ in Arlington, VA, a
technology company with three major operating units: Information
Systems (Reston, VA), Sensor & Communications Systems, and Weapons Systems. SBRC (as of 1996 SBRS, builder of Landsat instruments,
MSS, TM, monolithic infrared focal plane arrays, etc.) is part of Sensor
& Communications Systems
Helsinki University of Technology (Helsinki, Finland); note: as of 2007
there is also the abbreviation TKK (Teknillinen Korkea Koulu), the
Finish name of the university
Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (part of Shuttle ASTRO observatory)
Horizontal transmit --- Vertical receive polarization
Committee for Hydrometeorology (USSR/CIS agency in the field of
Meteorology)
HyperSpectral Earth Observer (an ASI mission in preparation,
planned flight in 2003)
Hydrology and Water Resources Programme (WMO)
I
IAA . . . . . . . . . . . International Academy of Astronautics (Paris, France)
IAASS . . . . . . . . . International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (the
IAASS was established after the Shuttle Columbia accident by a group
of safety engineers involved in the International Space Station Program)
IAC . . . . . . . . . . . Information Analytical navigation Center, Russia, established by Roskosmos in 1995. IAC (MCC in Russian) provides GLONASS and GPS
satellite ranging services. IAC supports GLONASS data archiving and
distribution for the Russian and world community.
IAC . . . . . . . . . . . International Astronautical Congress (of IAF, IAA, AIAA, etc.)
I2C (I2C) . . . . . . . Inter---Integrated Communication [a low---speed data (up to 400
kbit/s) and control bus in consumer, telecommunications and industrial
electronics]
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IACG . . . . . . . . . . Inter---Agency Consultative Group [an international forum of the

Space Agencies (NASA, ESA, ISAS, Rosaviakosmos, etc.) in particular
for the planning and coordination of space science missions], since 1981
IAE . . . . . . . . . . . Inflatable Antenna Experiment (Shuttle)
IADC . . . . . . . . . . Inter---Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee
IAF . . . . . . . . . . . International Astronautical Federation (Paris)
IAFE . . . . . . . . . . Institute of Astronomy and Space Physics (Argentina)
IAG . . . . . . . . . . . International Association of Geodesy
IAGA . . . . . . . . . . International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy
IAHS . . . . . . . . . . International Association of Hydrological Sciences
IAI . . . . . . . . . . . . Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., formerly Israel Aircraft Industries
Ltd. (government---owned company, of Lod, Israel, manufacturer of Israels Ofeq reconnaissance satellite series, Amos communication satellites, EROS, TecSAR, etc.)
IAI/MBT . . . . . . . IAI/Mifal Beth. MBT stands for the Hebrew translation of MIFAL
BETH (or its abbreviation of MABAT) which means the second plant,
since it was the second plant established by IAI in the 1960s. The Hebrew name of MABAT remained with the corresponding English acronym of MBT.
IAIN . . . . . . . . . . International Association of Institutes of Navigation (since 1975)
IALA . . . . . . . . . . International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities
IALA---NET . . . . IALA---NET demonstrator is a near real time AIS data exchange service, provided via the Internet, with a capacity for storage of AIS data
for statistical purposes. It is a worldwide service only open to national
Authorities who provide the AIS data from their own country. The service is intended to assist these Authorities to fulfill their duties regarding safety, security, protection of marine environment and efficiency of
navigation.
IAMAP . . . . . . . . International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics
IAMAS . . . . . . . . International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences
IAP . . . . . . . . . . . . Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Moscow
IAPSO . . . . . . . . . International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (one
of seven associations of IUGG, which in turn is a union of ICSU)
IARU . . . . . . . . . . International Amateur Radio Union (since 1925, the federation of National Amateur Radio Societies)
IAS . . . . . . . . . . . . Institut dAstrophysique Spatiale (Verrires---le---Buisson, France, lab
is part of CNRS)
IASC . . . . . . . . . . International Arctic Science Committee (Arctic Centre, University of
Lapland, Finland)
IASIS . . . . . . . . . . Interbranch Association Sovinformsputnik (commercial distributor of
imagery from Russian defense satellites, Moscow)
IAPRS . . . . . . . . . International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (of
ISPRS)
IARU . . . . . . . . . . International Amateur Radio Union (a federation of national amateur
radio societies)
IAU . . . . . . . . . . . International Astronomical Union
IBAMA . . . . . . . . Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambientes Dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis (Brazil)
IBC . . . . . . . . . . . Impurity Band Conduction (detector technology)
IBFRA . . . . . . . . . International Boreal Forest Research Association (since 1991)
IBFRA---SRF . . . IBFRA --- Stand Replacement Fire (working group)
IBSE . . . . . . . . . . Initial Blood Storage Experiment (Shuttle payload)
IBSFC . . . . . . . . . International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission
IBSS . . . . . . . . . . . Infrared Background Signature Survey (satellite of the USAF deployed
on STS---39) IBSS was retrieved by the Shuttle on May 2, 1991.
ICA . . . . . . . . . . . International Cartographic Association
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ICAE . . . . . . . . . . International Conference on Atmospheric Electricity

ICARE . . . . . . . . Data Processing and Management Center hosted at USTL (Universit
des Sciences et Techniques de Lille), Lille, France. Note: ICARE is a
research structure set up in 2003 on a national level and consisting of
CNES, INSU, USTL, etc. (all research laboratories) --- to study aerosol---cloud---radiation interactions and the water cycle (cloud properties, atmospheric chemistry) and using data from various missions
(PARASOL, Calipso, Megha---Tropiques, etc.).
ICAO . . . . . . . . . . International Civil Aviation Organization
ICAT . . . . . . . . . . Incubator---Cell Attachment Test (Shuttle)
ICBC . . . . . . . . . . IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (Shuttle), a 65 mm color motion picture
camera
ICBM . . . . . . . . . . Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. Russia offers commercially four
types of converted ICBMs for satellite launches. The types Rockot
and Strela are based on the SS---19 Stiletto missile; Dnepr is based
on the SS---18 Satan missile; Start is a converted SS---20 missile. The
Rockot launch vehicle Rockot is a joint venture of Eurockot Launch
Services GmbH, Bremen, Germany and of KhSC (Khrunichev Space
Center), Moscow. ISC Kosmotras of Moscow markets the Dnepr vehicle. The Start (Start---1) vehicle is marketed by Puscovie Uslugi of
Moscow.
ICC . . . . . . . . . . . Instrument Control Center (EOSDIS Facility)
ICC . . . . . . . . . . . Integrated Cargo Carrier (Shuttle payload, first flown on STS---96).
ICC is an unpressurized flat bed pallet and keel yoke assembly.
Constructed of aluminum, it is 2.5 m long, 4.5 m wide and 25 cm thick
and has the capability to carry cargo (up to about 1350 kg) on both faces
of the pallet, both atop and below. The ICC is used by astronauts
throughout the construction of the Space Station as it transports hardware from locations on the stations exterior to work sites on the truss
assemblies.
ICDP . . . . . . . . . . International Continental Scientific Drilling Program
ICE . . . . . . . . . . . International Cirrus Experiment (campaign)
ICE . . . . . . . . . . . International Cometary Explorer (renamed ISEE---3 mission), K.21.2
ICES . . . . . . . . . . International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
ICESCAPE . . . . . Impacts of Climate on Ecosystems and Chemistry of the Arctic Pacific
Environment (NASAs first dedicated oceanographic field campaign
starting in June 2010). ICESCAPE takes to the sea on the U.S. Coast
Guard Cutter Healy, the United States newest and most technologically advanced polar icebreaker. A key focus of the mission is how
changes in the Arctic may be altering the oceans ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere. The greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is a leading cause of global warming.
ICET . . . . . . . . . . International Center for Earth Tides
ICG . . . . . . . . . . . International Committee on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems). The ICG Members are: China, European Union, United States,
India, Italy, Japan, Russia, Nigeria, Malaysia, UAE (United Arab
Emirates) and international organizations such as: ESA, BIPM, UPS,
EUREF (European Reference Frame --- IAG Reference Frame Sub--Commission for Europe), FIG, IAG, IAIN, IGS, NU OOSA and URSI.
The United Nation Office OOSA provide Secretariat for the ICG, supporting meetings preparation and conduction and planning activities.
ICIC . . . . . . . . . . . Intercalibrations/Intercomparisons (IGBP/IGAC focus 7 activity)
ICRF . . . . . . . . . . International Celestial Reference Frame (first realization was adopted
by the IAU in 1997; ICRF is maintained by the IAU, IERS and IVS)
ICRF2 . . . . . . . . . International Celestial Reference Frame 2 (an improved realization of
ICRF and adopted by the IAU General Assembly in August 2009; effective use started on January 1, 2010). ICRF2 uses observations of ap-
ICRSS . . . . . . . . .
ICSU . . . . . . . . . .
ICWG---EO . . . . .
IDA . . . . . . . . . . .
IDEA . . . . . . . . . .
IDEAL . . . . . . . .
IDHT . . . . . . . . . .
IDN . . . . . . . . . . .
IDS . . . . . . . . . . . .
i.e. . . . . . . . . . . . .
IEA . . . . . . . . . . .
IECM . . . . . . . . . .
IEE . . . . . . . . . . .
IEEC . . . . . . . . . .
IEEE . . . . . . . . . .
IEF . . . . . . . . . . . .
IEH . . . . . . . . . . .
IEICE . . . . . . . . .
IELV . . . . . . . . . .
IEM . . . . . . . . . . .
IEOS . . . . . . . . . .
IEPC . . . . . . . . . .
IERS . . . . . . . . . .
IERS . . . . . . . . . .
IETF . . . . . . . . . .
I/F . . . . . . . . . . . .
IF . . . . . . . . . . . . .
IFAC . . . . . . . . . .
IFAG . . . . . . . . . .
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proximately 3,000 quasars. The ICRF maps are useful for navigation on
Earth and in space.
International Commercial Remote Sensing Symposium (of the United
States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, Inc.)
International Council of Scientific Unions (HQs in Paris, France. ICSU
is a non---governmental body created in 1931 to promote international
science and its applications. It has a membership of international organizations (Scientific Unions), national science academies and research
councils, and Scientific Associates. Some committees of ICSU are:
IGBP, SCOPE, SCAR, COSPAR, etc.)
International Coordination Working Group for Earth Observation
Institute of Defense Analysis (since 1957, a DoD nonprofit corporation)
Intelligent Distributed Execution Architecture (an onboard software
package of NASA/ARC for onboard planning support)
International Decade of of East African Lakes (campaign)
Instrument Data Handling and Transmission (ERS---1 S---band antenna)
International Directory Network (CEOS---defined for databases, former designation PID)
International DORIS Service
abbreviation (Latin: id est) that is
International Energy Agency (Paris, France, since 1974)
Induced Environment Contamination Monitor (Shuttle)
Institution of Electrical Engineers (London, UK)
Institut DEstudis Espacials de Catalunya (Institute for Space Studies
of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (USA)
Isoelectric Focusing (Shuttle payload)
International EUV Hitchhiker (Shuttle payload)
Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers,
Tokyo, Japan
Intermediate Expendable Launch Vehicle (EOS program)
Integrated Electronics Module
International Earth Observing System (Committee dealing with the
policies, principles of data exchange, etc.; partner agencies are: CSA
(Canada), ESA (Europe), NASA (USA), and STA (Japan). Delegations from agencies with operational environmental monitoring satellites: NASDA, MITI, JMA (Japan), EUMETSAT (Europe), NOAA
(USA), AES (Canada). Typical IEOS missions are: ENVISAT (ESA),
EOS/AM---1 (NASA), NOAA---N (NOAA), ADEOS (NASDA), and
TRMM (NASA/NASDA).
International Electric Propulsion Conference
International Earth Rotation Service (Central Bureau in Paris, since
1988)
International Earth Reference System
Internet Engineering Task Force. IETF develops and promotes Internet standards, in particular dealing with the TCP/IP and Internet protocol suite.
Interface
Intermediate Frequency
International Federation of Automatic Control (since 1957). TC (Technical Committee) on Atomatic Control in Aerospace (since 1963)
Institut fr Angewandte Geodsie [Institute of Applied Geodesy --- a
federal agency under the jurisdiction of the German Ministry of the Interior (BMI) with research in the fields of geodesy, cartography and
photogrammetry]. IFAG maintains a central office in Frankfurt/Main
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IFARS . . . . . . . . .
IFE . . . . . . . . . . . .
IFEOS . . . . . . . . .
IFOV . . . . . . . . . .
IFREE . . . . . . . . .
IFREMER . . . . .

and branch offices in Leipzig, Potsdam, and Berlin. Note: In the late
1990s, IFAG was renamed to BKG (Bundesamt fr Kartographie und
Geodsie.
Institute for Applied Remote Sensing (Wedel, Germany)
Isoelectric Focusing Experiment (Shuttle payload)
International Forum on Earth Observations Using Space Station Elements (since 1986)
Instantaneous Field of View
Institute for Frontier Research on Earth Evolution, Tokyo, Japan
(since 2002, subduction zone research, etc.)
Institut Francais de Recherche pour LExploration de la Mer (French
Ocean Agency in Brest, France). IFREMER/CERSAT (Centre ERS
dArchivage et de Traitement) is the French ERS Processing and Archiving Facility (PDF) for satellite data and is part of the Dpartement
dOcanographie Spatiale at IFREMER.
IFSAR . . . . . . . . . Interferometric SAR (measurement technique using two antennas,

sometimes also referred to as InSAR)
IFTI . . . . . . . . . . . Ioffe Physical Technical Institute (St. Petersburg)
IGAC . . . . . . . . . . International Global Atmosphere Chemistry (IGBP core program)
IGAP . . . . . . . . . . International Global Programme on Atmospheric Particles
IGARSS . . . . . . . International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium --- since
1981, sponsored by GRSS (Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society)
IGBP . . . . . . . . . . International Geosphere---Biosphere Programme of ICSU (IGBP is
closely linked, directly or through ICSU, to other international organizations involved in global change research, including: GCOS, IOC,
IPCC, ISSC, SCOPE, UNEP, WCRP, WMO. Over 50 countries have
national IGBP committees and supporting bodies. The IGBP Secretariat is in Stockholm, Sweden)
IGDDS . . . . . . . . Integrated Global Data Dissemination Service (a component of the
WMO Information System)
IGDG . . . . . . . . . Internet---based Global Differential GPS (a NASA/JPL software package that provides a complete end---to---end system capability for GPS--based real---time positioning and orbit determination)
IGEB . . . . . . . . . . Interagency GPS Executive Board [IGEB (Presidential Decision Directive as of March 1996) offers some formal civil agency participation
in the GPS program. It is jointly chaired by the DoD and DoT, with
oversight and management of the dual use component of the GPS]
IGEX . . . . . . . . . . International GLONASS Experiment, a campaign under the auspices
of IAG (International Association of Geodesy)
IGFOV . . . . . . . . Instantaneous Geometric Field of View
IGGOS . . . . . . . . Integrated Global Geodetic Observing System (of IAG). In geodesy,
the Earth system is composed of solid geosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
IGN . . . . . . . . . . . Institut Gographique National (French National Geographic Institute, Paris)
IGO . . . . . . . . . . . Intergovernmental Organization
IGOS . . . . . . . . . . Integrated Global Observing Strategy (for synergetic effects, since
1998). IGOS is a partnership by the UNESCO, ICSU. CEOS, etc.
IGOS---P . . . . . . . IGOS Partnership (an international effort aimed to globally monitor
quantitative information on carbon sources, set up in 1999 under
IGOS---P). The TCO (Terrestrial Carbon Observation) initiative is an
effort by space and international organizations within IGOS---P to
employ the best current observation tools and models to build up a
global observing system for tracking carbon fluxes.
IGRF . . . . . . . . . . International Geomagnetic Reference Field
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IGS . . . . . . . . . . . . International GNSS Service (since 1993, prior to 2005: International

GPS Service), as of 2006 IGS comprises 200 agencies worldwide and
350 ground stations
IGS . . . . . . . . . . . . Information Gathering Satellite [a classified Japanese high---resolution imagery reconnaissance program of four spacecraft (two S/C are
furnished with SAR instruments and two S/C with optical instruments),
a launch of the first two IGS satellites took place on March 28, 2003].
The IGS---1a S/C (optical imaging) has a mass of 850 kg at launch, the
IGS---1b S/C (SAR imaging) has a mass of 1200 kg. The IGS S/C were
built by Mitsubishi and are being operated by JIDF (Japan Inter--Design Forum). The IGS program was approved by the Japanese government Dec. 22, 1998 in response to a missile launch by North Korea
on Aug. 31, 1998. Optical imagery has a resolution of 1 m while the SAR
data have a ground resolution of 1---3 m.
IGSO . . . . . . . . . . Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (a subclass of GSO)
IGU . . . . . . . . . . . International Geographical Union
IGY . . . . . . . . . . . International Geophysical Year [created in 1952 by the ICSU plenary
meeting; the first IGY took place in 1957/58 (a year of expected maximum solar activity), it coincided also with the start of the space age, the
launch Sputnik---1 on Oct. 4, 1957]. The IGY was inspired by the realization that much better and more complete information about the
Earth and geospace was needed to understand and manage the complete terrestrial environment on which we depend.
IHO . . . . . . . . . . . International Hydrographic Organization
IHP . . . . . . . . . . . International Hydrology Programme (UNESCO)
IHY . . . . . . . . . . . International Heliophysical Year (2007)
IIP . . . . . . . . . . . . International Ice Patrol
IIST . . . . . . . . . . . Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology. IIST is Indias national institute for the study and development of space science. It was
inaugurated on 14 September, 2007. IIST is located on the VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) campus, Trivandrum, Kerala.
IJSSE . . . . . . . . . . International Journal of Small Satellite Engineering (electronic journal on internet, edited at the University of Surrey, UK)
IKF . . . . . . . . . . . . Institut fr Kosmosforschung, Berlin---Adlershof, in former East Germany. Note: as of Jan. 1992 the IKF was renamed Institute of Space
Sensor Technology (ISST), it is part of DLR)
IKI RAN . . . . . . . Space Research Institute (of the Russian Academy of Sciences, RAN
(or RAS, depending on the alphabet), Moscow, Russia; extraterrestrial
physics and remote sensing, since 1965)
IKI---BAN . . . . . . Space Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Sofia, Bulgaria)
ILEWG . . . . . . . . International Lunar Exploration Working Group
ILL . . . . . . . . . . . . Institut Laue---Langevin (Grenoble, France), leading facility in neutron science and technology
ILIS . . . . . . . . . . . Ionic Liquid Ion Source (porous ILIS is a thruster technology)
ILN . . . . . . . . . . . International Lunar Network. A proposed network of landed stations
on the moon in the 2nd decade of the 21 century by: Canada, France,
Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, UK and the USA. Each of these
stations will act as a node in a lunar geophysical network. Each station
will be equipped with set of instruments: seismic, heat flow, electro--magnetic sounding and laser ranging.
ILRC . . . . . . . . . . International Laser Radar Conference (a conference held biennially
under the auspices of ICLAS (International Coordination---group for
Laer Atmospheric Studies).
ILRS . . . . . . . . . . International Laser Ranging Service was founded in 1998 [a network of
SLR (Satellite Laser Ranging) stations]. The ILRS Tracking Stations
provide ranging to a constellation of artificial satellites (LAGEOS, Etalon, EGS, Starlette, Stella, etc.). Each Tracking Station is typically asso-
3416
ILS . . . . . . . . . . . .
ILS . . . . . . . . . . . .
ILWS . . . . . . . . . .
IMAGES . . . . . . .
IMAU . . . . . . . . .
IMAX . . . . . . . . .
IMEC . . . . . . . . . .
IMET . . . . . . . . . .
IMEX . . . . . . . . .
IMF . . . . . . . . . . .
IMINT . . . . . . . . .
IMK . . . . . . . . . . .
IML
IMO
IMP
IMS
...........
...........
...........
...........
IMTA . . . . . . . . . .
IMU . . . . . . . . . . .
INCA . . . . . . . . . .
INDEX . . . . . . . .
INDEX . . . . . . . .
INDOEX . . . . . . .
INDREX . . . . . . .
INFN . . . . . . . . . .
Infoterra GmbH .
ING . . . . . . . . . . .
InAs . . . . . . . . . . .
InGaAs . . . . . . . .
InGaP/GaAs . . . .
INLSE . . . . . . . . .
INM . . . . . . . . . . .
ciated with one of the three regional subnetworks: NASA (National

Aeronautics and Space Administration), EUROLAS (EUROpean
LASer Network), or the WPTLN (Western Pacific Laser Tracking Network).
Instrument Landing System
International Launch Services [a joint commercial venture between
Lockheed Martin Corp. (USA), Khrunichev Space Center (KhSC) and
RKK Energia (Russia), offering of Atlas and Proton launch systems.
The first ILS launch occurred in Sept. 1996 (Inmarsat---3 from Baikonur); since April 15, 1993 all commercial contracts, involving the Proton launch vehicle, are handled by ILS.
International Living With a Star (initiative of space agencies on a global
scale, since 2000) see also LWS
International Marine Global Change Study (IGBP project)
Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (University of
Utrecht, The Netherlands)
Image Maximum (a large screen motion picture camera/format used by
the NASA/Smithsonian project to document significant space activities)
Inter---university MicroElectronics Center, Leuven, Belgium. IMEC is
a Flemish government initiative to bundle all microelectronics---related efforts of the three scientific universities into one independent
non---profit super---lab.
Improved Meteorological Instrumentation (WHOI buoy type)
Inner Magnetosphere Explorer, a mission of UMM (University of Minnesota at Minneapolis)
Interplanetary Magnetic Field
Imagery Intelligence (IMINT satellites use optical and/or microwave
imagers to produce high resolution images of objects in the ground degment)
Institute fr Meteorologie und Klimaforschung (Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research --- a cooperative institute of the Nuclear Research Center Karlsruhe (KfK) and of the University of Karlsruhe, Germany)
International Microgravity Laboratory (Shuttle payload)
International Maritime Organization
International Monitoring Platform, K.19
Information Management System at GSFC (The top---level function of
EOS DAACs)
Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologica del Agua (Cuernavaca, Mexico)
Inertial Measurement Unit (navigation instrument on aircraft)
Indian National Cartographic Association
Indian Ocean Experiment (campaign)
Innovative Technology Demonstration Experiment (of ISAS, Japan)
Indian Ocean Experiment (campaign)
Indonesian Radar Experiment (campaign)
Istituto Nazionale Fisica Nucleare (Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics), Rome, Italy
Infoterra is a subsidiary of EADS Astrium GmbH, Friedrichshafen,
Germany
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica (Rome Italy)
Indium Arsenide (detector type for IR spectrum)
Indium Gallium Arsenide (a detector type for IR spectrum)
Indium Gallium Phosphorus/Gallium Arsenide (solar cell type)
Israel Network for Lunar Science and Exploration
Instituto Nacional de Meteorologica (Spanish Weather Service)
3417
Inmarsat . . . . . . . International Maritime Satellite Organization (London, UK). Inmarsat was chartered as IGO (Intergovernmental Organization) in 1979 to
exploit the emerging satellite technology for mobile communications
and to improve maritime communications (safety at sea). Inmarsat
communication services started in 1982. On April 15, 1999, Inmarsat
became the first IGO to privatize, maintaining its public service.
INO . . . . . . . . . . . Institut National dOptique, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
InP . . . . . . . . . . . . Indium Phosphide (semiconductor material and solar cell type). InP offers in particular higher communication frequencies, hence data rates.
INPE . . . . . . . . . . Instituto de Pesquisas Espaciais (National Institute of Space Research,
Sao Jos dos Campos, S.P., Brazil, since 1971)
INQUA . . . . . . . . International Union for Quaternary Research (of ICSU)
INR . . . . . . . . . . . Image Navigation and Registration (GOES Second Generation S/C)
INRA . . . . . . . . . . Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (Grignon and Montfavet, France)
In---RIMT . . . . . . Indian Resources Information and Management Technologies Pvt.
Ltd, Hyderabad, India
INS . . . . . . . . . . . . Inertial Navigation System (for aircraft/spacecraft navigation)
INS . . . . . . . . . . . . Institute of Nuclear Physics, (New Zealand)
INSA . . . . . . . . . . Ingenieria y Servicios Aeroespaciales, Madrid, Spain (Fuego mission
coordinator, etc.); INSA was created in 1992 and is owned by INTA, the
Space Agency of Spain
InSAR . . . . . . . . . Interferometric SAR
INSAT . . . . . . . . . Indian National Satellite (series, employed for meteorology and communication), F.6
INSPIRE . . . . . . . Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (a framework of interoperability is being developed to share data for GMES, etc.)
IN---STEP . . . . . . In---Space Technology Experiments Program (NASA, initiated in 1992)
INSU . . . . . . . . . . Institut National des Sciences de lUnivers (Paris, part of CNRS)
InSb . . . . . . . . . . . Indium antimonide (detector type material for infrared region)
INTA . . . . . . . . . . Instituto National de Tcnica Aeroespacial, Madrid, Spain (INTA was
created in 1942). INTA is also the Space Agency of Spain and has ESA
membership since 1980.
Intelsat . . . . . . . . . International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Washington, DC). Intelsat, a government---owned satellite operator (of the Intelsat series), became a private company in July 2001. In 2005, Intelsat
bought PanAmSat to create the worlds largest provider of fixed satellite services (FSS).
INTERBALL . . . IKI mission program (solar---terrestrial interaction) within ISTP, K.20
Intercosmos . . . . . USSR/CIS space program for collaborative science projects among its
nine members and with other nations. Intercosmos was created in 1967
inviting the former Soviet---affiliated countries (like, East---Germany,
Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, etc.) to participate in the Soviet space program with their own national contributions (one area of participation
was in remote sensing, building sensors for specific missions, dissemination and scientific interpretation of data, etc. ). Activities in international manned space flight missions were also under the label of
Intercosmos. Satellites in the Intercosmos program are named Intercosmos---n, like Intercosmos---19 (launched Feb. 27, 1979).
IOAG . . . . . . . . . . Interagency Operations Advisory Group
IOC . . . . . . . . . . . Initial Operating Capability (GPS, GLONASS, )
IOC . . . . . . . . . . . Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (of UNESCO)
IOCCG . . . . . . . . International Ocean---Color Coordinating Group (an international
group of experts)
IOCM . . . . . . . . . Interim Operational Contamination Monitor (Shuttle payload)
ION . . . . . . . . . . . Institute of Navigation (Washington, DC, since 1945)
3418
IOOS . . . . . . . . . . Integrated Ocean Observing System (USA, NOAA is managing the

IOOS)
IOP . . . . . . . . . . . Intensive Observation Period (within a campaign)
IOS . . . . . . . . . . . . Institute for Ocean Sciences (Sydney, British Columbia, Canada)
IOW . . . . . . . . . . . Institut fr Ostseeforschung Warnemnde (Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Warnemnde, Germany)
IP . . . . . . . . . . . . . Internet Protocol
IPACS . . . . . . . . . Integrated Power and Attitude Control Subsystem (NASA development of a CMG/energy system)
IPCC . . . . . . . . . . Inter---Governmental Panel for Climate Change (set up by WMO and
UNEP in 1988), an international panel to advise policy makers
IPDA . . . . . . . . . . Integrated Path Differential Absorption
IPG . . . . . . . . . . . Institute of Applied Geophysics (Moscow, Russia)
IPG---Paris . . . . . . Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris
IPGP . . . . . . . . . . Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (both acronyms are being used)
IPMP . . . . . . . . . . Investigations into Polymer Membrane Processing (Shuttle experiment)
IPO . . . . . . . . . . . Integrated Program Office (Silver Spring, MD), consisting of a team
made up of NOAA, NASA and DoD representatives for the development of the NPOESS spacecraft series
IPOMS . . . . . . . . International Polar---Orbiting Meteorological Satellite
IPoS . . . . . . . . . . . Internet Protocol over Satellite (industry standard, as of 2005 global
standard)
IPS . . . . . . . . . . . . Instrument Pointing System (Spacelab---2, built by ESA, structure for
mounting telescopes)
IPS . . . . . . . . . . . . Ion Propulsion System
IPSL . . . . . . . . . . . LInstitut Pierre Simon Laplace pour les Sciences de lEnvironnement
(LMD/IPSL, Paris)
IPv4 . . . . . . . . . . . Internet Protocol version 4. IPv4 is a data---oriented protocol to be used
on a packet switched inter---network (e.g., Ethernet).
IPv6 . . . . . . . . . . . Internet Protocol version 6. A network layer protocol for packet--switched inter---networks. IPv6 is an extension of IPv4 with a much larger address space (next generation standard).
IPY 2007---8 . . . . International Polar Year (initiative by ICSU --- from March 2007 to
March 2009). IPY is an internationally coordinated suite of scientific
field campaigns to study climatic and environmental change in the polar regions and the connections linking the polar regions to the rest of
the globe.
IPWG . . . . . . . . . International Precipitation Working Group (promotes standards for
operational procedures and common software for deriving precipitation measurements from satellites)
IRAS . . . . . . . . . . InfraRed Astronomical Satellite (an astronomy mission of the Netherlands, the USA, and the UK; launch of IRAS Jan. 25, 1983; IRAS
mapped over 250,000 cosmic infrared sources and large areas of extended emission)
IRCFE . . . . . . . . . Infrared Communications Flight Experiment (Shuttle)
IR&D . . . . . . . . . Independent Research & Development (company internal funding)
IRD . . . . . . . . . . . Institut de Recherche pour le Dveloppement (Paris, France, successor
organization to ORSTOM)
IRDT . . . . . . . . . . Inflatable Reentry and Descent Technology (ESA reentry vehicle)
IRED . . . . . . . . . . Infrared Emitting Diode
IRE RAN . . . . . . Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics (of the Russian Academy of Sciences, RAN, in Moscow; founded in 1953, IRE is involved in
remote sensing, etc., also providing general management services)
IRF . . . . . . . . . . . Swedish Institute of Space Physics [(Institutet fr rymdfysik), a governmental research institute with the following divisions: IRF---K (Kiruna), IRF---Um (Umea) with a Laboratory of Mechanical Waves and a
IR---IE . . . . . . . . .
IRIS . . . . . . . . . . .
IRIS . . . . . . . . . . .
IRIS . . . . . . . . . . .
IRIS . . . . . . . . . . .
IRLS . . . . . . . . . .
IRM . . . . . . . . . . .
IRMB . . . . . . . . .
IRNSS . . . . . . . . .
IROE --- CNR . . .

IRS . . . . . . . . . . . .
IRS . . . . . . . . . . . .
IRS . . . . . . . . . . . .
IRS . . . . . . . . . . . .
IRSA . . . . . . . . . .
IRSA . . . . . . . . . .
IRSC . . . . . . . . . .
IRSI . . . . . . . . . . .
IRT . . . . . . . . . . . .
IRU . . . . . . . . . . .
ISA . . . . . . . . . . . .
ISA . . . . . . . . . . . .
ISAC . . . . . . . . . .
ISAC . . . . . . . . . .
ISAC --- CNR . . .
ISAIAH . . . . . . . .
ISAL
ISAM
ISAR
ISAR
..........
..........
..........
..........
ISAS . . . . . . . . . . .
ISAT . . . . . . . . . . .
ISC Kosmotras . .
3419
Space Physics Group at Umea University, IRF---U (Upsalla), IRF--STL (Solar Terrestrial Physics) Lund Division]
Infrared Imaging Experiment (Shuttle payload)
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (US)
International Radio Interferometric Surveying (Subcommittee of the
International Association of Geodesy)
Internet Routing in Space (Cisco payload architecture on the Intelsat---14 S/C)
Italian Research Interim Stage (upper stage used in conjunction with
NASAs Shuttle to place payloads up to 900 kg into geo---transfer orbit)
Interrogation, Recording and Location Subsystem (French---US Eole
experiment flown on Nimbus---3 in 1969)
Ion Release Module (S/C of the AMPTE mission, K.4.1)
Institut Royal de Mtorologie Belgique (Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, Brussels) also referred to as KMI/IRM and RMIB
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System consisting of 7 satellites --developed by ISRO (a navigation system in GEO --- 3 satellites will be
placed in geostationary orbit and the four others in geosynchronous orbit)
Istituto Ricerca Onde Elettromagnetiche --- Consiglio Nazionale delle
Ricerche (Florence, Italy)
Information Retrieval System (ESA data system)
Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (ISRO), D.24 (IRS---1A, 1B, 1C, 1D,
1E, etc.)
Inertial Reference System
Institut fr Raumflugsysteme (University of Stuttgart, Germany)
Institute for Remote Sensing Applications (of JRC, Ispra, Italy. In 1996
IRSA was renamed to SAI = Space Applications Institute)
Institute for Remote Sensing Applications, since 1980 (Beijing, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Iranian Remote Secing Center, Tehran, Iran (funded by the Ministry of
Posts and Telecommunications)
Infrared Space Interferometer (ESA mission under definition)
Infrared Telescope (Spacelab---2 instrument, a 15 cm f/4 Herschelian
telescope)
Inertial Reference Unit
Institute of Space Aeronomy (Brussels, Belgium)
Israel Space Agency (since 1983 ---within the framework of the Ministry
of Science and Technology)
Intelsat Solar Array Coupon (Shuttle experiment)
ISRO Satellite Center (Bangalore, India)
Istituto Scienze dellAtmosfera e del Clima, Rome, Italy
Israeli Space Agency Investigation about Hornets (Shuttle experiment)
Investigation of STS Atmospheric Luminosities (Shuttle)
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Microscopy
Inflatable SAR (a SAR antenna design to reduce mass)
Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (a technique used for target identification)
Institute for Space and Astronomical Science (University of Tokyo, Japan), since 1981
Information Science and Technology (a study title and program of
DARPA to develop new radar technology). For 2009, an ISAT flight
demonstration is planned, namely a SAR spacecraft in MEO.
International Space Company Kosmotras. ISC is a joint venture space
launch company of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan with HQ in Moscow (since 1997). Commercial operation of the Dnepr Space Launch
3420
ISCCP . . . . . . . . .
ISDE (RNII KP)
ISDE
ISDN
ISEE
ISET
..........
..........
..........
..........
ISI . . . . . . . . . . . .
ISIC . . . . . . . . . . .
ISIR . . . . . . . . . . .
ISIS . . . . . . . . . . .
ISLR . . . . . . . . . .
ISLSCP . . . . . . . .
ISM . . . . . . . . . . .
ISN . . . . . . . . . . . .
ISO . . . . . . . . . . . .
ISO . . . . . . . . . . . .
ISON . . . . . . . . . .
ISOPS . . . . . . . . .
ISPR . . . . . . . . . .
ISPRS . . . . . . . . .
ISPR . . . . . . . . . .
ISPT . . . . . . . . . . .
ISRO . . . . . . . . . .
ISRO/IISU . . . . .
ISRO/ISAC . . . . .
ISRO/ISTRAC . .
ISRO/LPSC . . . .
ISRO/MCF . . . . .
ISRO/NRSC . . . .
ISRO/SAC . . . . . .
ISRO/SHAR . . . .
System based on SS---18 ICBM technology. Launches are conducted at

Baikonur as well as at the Yasny launch base in Dombarovsky, Russia.
International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (by ICSU & WMO)
Institute of Space Device Engineering, Moscow; a leading Russian
company in the design and development of sensors; participation in
programs: Venera, Vega, Phobos, Luna, Mars, Prognoz, Granat, Resurs, Okean, Glonass, etc.
International Symposium on Digital Earth
Integrated Services Digital Network
International Sun Earth Explorer (3 S/C mission), K.21
Integrated Systems Engineering Team (a US working group drawn
from industry, academia, and the national laboratories. The objective is
to develop interface standards for ORS (Operationally Responsive
Space) satellite bus/payloads)
ImageSat International, N.V., formerly WIS (West Indian Space) Ltd.,
Cayman Islands (a Netherlands Antilles---registered joint venture).
Operator of EROS spacecraft (commercial imagery)
International Space Innovation Centre (Oxfordshire, UK, since 2010)
Infrared Spectral Imaging Radiometer (Shuttle payload)
Intelligent Satellite---Data Information System (a DLR/DFD archival
system and service)
Integrated Side Lobe Ratio
International Satellite Land---Surface Climatology Project (by ICSU
and WMO)
Industrial, Scientific and Medical (standard radio bands in the 2.4 GHz
range). Bluetooth is a radio technology operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM
frequency band, that is emerging as a low---level and low---power wireless communication protocol used for wireless personal area networks
(WPANs).
Institute of Satellite Navigation at the University of Leeds, UK
International Standards Organization (one of three bodies responsible
for the definition of OSI)
Infrared Space Observatory [ESA space science mission (4 instruments) with a launch Nov. 19, 1995, S/C operation until May, 16, 1998]
International Scientific Optical Network (ISON is providing space
debris research/detection in GEO, MEO, HEO and LEO orbits)
International Space Conference of Pacific---Basin Societies
International Standard Payload Rack (a standard research module of
ISS). ISPR has a volume of 1.571 m3 and a net mass of 104 kg. It can hold
up to 700 kg of equipment.
International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
International Standard Payload Rack (adopted by the ISS program),
each ISPR provides 1.6 m3 of space, the rack has a mass of 104 kg and
can accommodate up to 700 kg of payload mass
In---Space Propulsion Technology, a NASA program since 2001
Indian Space Research Organization (HQ at Bangalore, since 1969).
ISRO is is Indias national space agency.
ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
ISRO Satellite Center (Bangalore, India)
ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network
ISRO Liquid Propulsion Systems Center
ISRO INSAT Master Control Facility
ISRO National Remote Sensing Center, (Hyderabad, India)
ISRO Space Applications Center (Ahmedabad, India)
ISRO Sriharikota Range (ISRO launch site, East Coast of India)
3421
ISRO/VSSC . . . . ISRO Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (launch vehicle development),

located on the south/west coast of India near Trivandrum in Kerela
State.
ISRS . . . . . . . . . . . International Symposium on Remote Sensing (of the Korean Society of
Remote Sensing)
ISRSE . . . . . . . . . International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment
ISS . . . . . . . . . . . . International Space Station
ISSC . . . . . . . . . . . International Social Science Council (UN)
ISSI . . . . . . . . . . . International Space Science Institute, Bern, Switzerland
IST . . . . . . . . . . . . Instrument Support Terminal (EOSDIS Facility)
ISTC . . . . . . . . . . International Science and Technology Center. ISTC is an intergovernmental organization connecting scientists from Russia, Georgia and
other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
ISTP . . . . . . . . . . . International Solar---Terrestrial Physics Program [involves a total of 12
satellites provided by ESA (SOHO, CLUSTER), NASA [GGS (POLAR, WIND), IMP---8, FAST], IKI (Interball, ECOS---A), ISAS (Geotail)]
ISTRAC . . . . . . . ISRO Telemetry and Command Center (Bangalore, India)
ISTS . . . . . . . . . . . Institute for Space and Terrestrial Science (North York, Ontario, Canada) Note: A name change to CREST (Center for Research in Earth and
Space Technology) took place on Sept. 24, 1997
ISTS . . . . . . . . . . . Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (Tokyo, Japan)
ISTS . . . . . . . . . . . International Symposium on Space Technology and Science
ISY . . . . . . . . . . . . International Space Year (1992)
ITAR . . . . . . . . . . International Traffic in Arms Regulation (US regulations related to the
export of satellite and rocket technology). The ITAR rules were designed to protect military---sensitive US---dveloped technologies from
falling into the hands of US adversaries. However, US allies are also
subject to them, even in cases in which the laws applications seem to
have escaped the bounds of its intent.
ITC . . . . . . . . . . . . International Institute for Geo---Information Science and Earth Observation, Enschede, The Netherlands (since 1950). Note: the former
name was: International Training Centre for Aerial Survey (hence
ITC). ITC is an agency of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
ITCZ . . . . . . . . . . Inter Tropical Conversion Zone
ITEX . . . . . . . . . . Island Thunderstorm Experiment (campaign)
ITIR5907) . . . . . . . Intermediate Thermal Infrared Radiation (EOS sensor); ITIR was renamed in 1990 ASTER = Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission
and Reflection Radiometer
ITO . . . . . . . . . . . Indium Tin Oxide (a light sensitive sensor type)
ITOS . . . . . . . . . . Improved TIROS Operational System (NOAA S/C)
ITRF . . . . . . . . . . International Terrestrial Reference Frame (established by IERS)
ITSC . . . . . . . . . . International TOVS Study Conference (a yearly event on sounding
technology)
I---TSP . . . . . . . . . Ionosphere---Thermosphere Storm Probes (NASA Geospace mission)
ITT Industries . . . Headquarters in White Plains, NY, USA. ITT builds navigation and
meteorological satellites; ground station design and development; payload processing, launch integration and services; range engineering and
technical support; simulation, mission planning and on---board processing software development. In Feb. 2004, ITT acquired the RSS (Remote Sensing Systems) division of Eastman Kodak Co.
ITT---A/CD . . . . . ITT Industries Inc. Aerospace/Communications Division (Fort Wayne,
IN), builder of remote sensing instruments (AVHRR, HIRS, GOES--series instruments, etc.).
_____________________
5907) The Earth Observer, Vol. 2 No. 10, Dec. 1990, pp. 3
3422
ITT---AES . . . . . . ITT Industries Inc. Advanced Engineering & Sciences with HQ in Reston, VA. AES (defense, telecommunication, information technology)
is in turn part of ITTs Defense Electronics & Services division.
ITU . . . . . . . . . . . International Telecommunication Union (since 1865, founded as International Telegraphy Union, since 1934 as ITU, since 1947 ITU is a UN
agency to cover standards for a wide range of telecommunication services, including frequency allocations standards for fax, ISDN, JPEG,
MPEG, ATM, etc., Geneva, Switzerland)
ITU---R . . . . . . . . ITU---Radiocommunication standardization sector (formerly known
as CCIR --- responsible for managing efficient use of the radio---frequency spectrum)
ITU---T . . . . . . . . ITU---Telecommunication standardization sector (formerly CCITT)
IUGG . . . . . . . . . International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (since 1919, a union of
ICSU). The international associations of IUGG are: 1) IAG (International Association of Geodesy); 2) IAGA (International Association of
Geomagnetism and Aeronomy); 3) IAHS (International Association
of Hydrological Sciences); 4) IAMAS (International Associacition of
Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences); 5) IAPSO (International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans); 6) IASPEI (International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earths Interior); 7)
IAVCEI (International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of
the Earths Interior).
IVHM . . . . . . . . . Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (Shuttle payload, terchnology
demonstration)
IVHS . . . . . . . . . . Intelligent Vehicle/Highway Systems
IVS . . . . . . . . . . . . International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry
IWF . . . . . . . . . . . Institut fr Weltraumforschung, Graz, Austria
IWSCFF . . . . . . . International Workshop on Satellite Constellation and Formation Flying
IWV . . . . . . . . . . . Integrated Water Vapor (a term used for GPS meteorology for total
column integrated water vapor monitoring)
IYA . . . . . . . . . . . International Year of Astronomy (2009) declared by the UN General
Assembly in collaboration with the IAU (International Astronomical
Union)
IZMIRAN . . . . . . Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radiowave Propagation (of Russian Academy of Sciences, Troitsk, Moscow region)
J
JACIE . . . . . . . . .
JAMIC . . . . . . . . .
JAMSTEC . . . . . .
JAROS . . . . . . . .
JAFIC . . . . . . . . .
JAXA . . . . . . . . . .
JAXA/IAT . . . . . .
JAXA/ISAS . . . . .
JAXA/JSPEC . . .
JAXA/SDRC . . . .
JCAB . . . . . . . . . .
Joint Agency Civil Commercial Imagery Evaluation (Workshop)

Japan Microgravity Center (Kamisunagawa, Hokkaido)
Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (Tokyo)
Japan Resources Observation System Organization
Japan Fisheries Information Center
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tokyo; --- JAXA is the new name
(merger) of the three former Japanese space organizations into a single
national agency, namely: NASDA (National Space Development
Agency of Japan), ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science),
and NAL (National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan). The merger is effective as of Oct. 1, 2003
JAXA/Institute of Aerospace Technology
JAXA/Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
JAXA Space Exploration Center (a new directorate of JAXA established on April, 1 2007)
JAXA/Space---technology Demonstration Research Center (conducts
the small satellite program)
Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB is an agency/organization within the Japanese Ministry of Transport)
3423
JEA . . . . . . . . . . . Japan Environmental Agency

JEM . . . . . . . . . . . Japanese Experiment Module (Japans pressurized module directly attached to the Space Station Freedom). JEM (Kibo, meaning Hope).
JEM---EF . . . . . . . JEM---External Facility
JEMRMS . . . . . . JEM Remote Manipulator System (NASDA contribution to ISS;
JEMRMS is planned to be installaed in 2006)
Jena---Optronik . Jena---Optronik GmbH (Jena, Germany) was founded in 1992 by
Daimler---Benz Aerospace and Jenoptik AG as a successor company of
the former VEB Carl Zeiss Jena. Jena---Optronik is a builder of AOCS
(Attitude Orbit and Control System) sensors (ASTRO family) for the
satellite industry. Shareholders of Jena---Optronik GmbH are EADS
NV and Jenoptik AG. As of January 2005, Jena---OptroniK GmbH became a 100% subsidiary of the Jenoptik Group.
Jenoptik AG . . . . Jena, Germany, Jenoptik grew out of Jenoptik Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
in 1991.
JEOS . . . . . . . . . . Japanese Earth Observation System
JERS . . . . . . . . . . Japanese Earth Resources Satellite, D.25
JFET . . . . . . . . . . Junction Field---Effect Transistor
JGOFS . . . . . . . . . Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (IGBP program)
JGR . . . . . . . . . . . Journal of Geophysical Research (a publication of AGU)
JGPSC . . . . . . . . . Japan GPS Council (over 80 manufacturers, major users, research
institutes, etc.)
JHU . . . . . . . . . . . Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD, USA)
JHU/APL . . . . . . JHU/Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA, since 1942; APL
is a major space research institute (staff of 2700) and the designer and
builder of satellites (Transit series, ACE, AMPTE/CCE, MSX, NEAR,
TIMED, etc.), instruments, S/C engineering, technical innovations,
etc.
JHU/PhA . . . . . . Johns Hopkins University/Physics & Astronomy Department (Baltimore, MD, USA)
JMA . . . . . . . . . . . Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA is an agency/organization within
the Japanese Ministry of Transport)
JODC . . . . . . . . . Japan Oceanographic Data Center
JOWIP . . . . . . . . . Joint Canada---US Ocean Wave Investigation Project (campaign)
JPALS . . . . . . . . . Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (developed by Raytheon for DoD). JPALS is an all---weather, all---mission, all---user landing system based on local area differential Global Positioning System
(GPS). Note: JPALS is the military counterpart to LAAS (Local Area
Augmentation System). JPALS is a landing system for ceilings of 100
feet (30 m, category II) down to zero feet that works in all weather conditions, including zero visibility, without allowing its signal to be
jammed or otherwise tampered with.
JPEG (JPG) . . . . Joint Photographic Experts Group (a compressed image format standard, 24---bit color; note: JPEG is a lossy compression technique based
on DCT)
JPEG---LS . . . . . . JPEG lossless --- use of a 2---D edge---detection predictor. JPEG---LS is
the new (1998/9) lossless/near---lossless compression standard for continuous---tone images, ISO---14495---1/ITU---T.87. The standard is
based on the LOCO---I algorithm (LOw COmplexity LOssless COmpression for Images) developed at Hewlett---Packard Laboratories.
JPL . . . . . . . . . . . . Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, since 1944 (DAAC of NASA
EOS Program). JPL is the only NASA center that is managed by a university, namely the California Institute of Technology
JPO . . . . . . . . . . . Joint Program Office (GPS)
J---POD . . . . . . . . JAXA---Picosatellite Orbital Deployer
JPOP . . . . . . . . . . Japanese Polar Platform
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JPSS . . . . . . . . . . . Joint Polar Satellite System. In Feb. 2010, the NPOESS program was
terminated by the US government due to severe cost overruns and program delays. NOAAs new satellite program, JPSS, was created in the
aftermath of the White Houses Feb. 2010 decision to canel NPOESS.
The development of the new JPSS will be managed by NASA/GSFC
while the spacecraft will be owned and operated by NOAA.. The launch
of JPSS---1 is planned for 2016.
JRC . . . . . . . . . . . Joint Research Centre (umbrella agency of CEU coordinating eight research institutes at five sites (Geel, Belgium; Karlsruhe, Germany; Petten, Netherlands; Ispra, Italy; Seville, Spain). IRMM (Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements) is located in Geel; ITU (Institute
of Transuranium Elements) is in Karlsruhe; IAM (Institute of Advanced Materials) is in Petten; IPS (Institute for Prospective Technological Studies) in Seville. The following institutes are located in Ispra:
ISIS (Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety), EI (Environment
Institute), SAI (Space Applications Institute), IHCP (Institute for
Health and Consumer Protection). --- The JRC Program Directorate is
located in Brussels.
JSASS . . . . . . . . . Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences
JSC . . . . . . . . . . . . Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX, USA)
JSC . . . . . . . . . . . . Joint Scientific Committee (of WCRP)
JST . . . . . . . . . . . . Japan Science and Technology Corporation (Tokyo. a Japanese government corporation promoting new technologies and basic research)
JTRS . . . . . . . . . . Joint Tactical Radio System --- a DoD program which started in 2005 to
come up eventually with an advanced architecture for SDR (Software
Defined Radio).
JUSREX . . . . . . . Joint US/Russian Internal Wave Remote Sensing Experiment (campaign)
JWGA . . . . . . . . . Joint Working Group ATMOS
JWST . . . . . . . . . . James Webb Space Telescope (of NASA). Note: The NGST (Next Generation Sapce Telescope) mission was renamed to JWST in Sept. 2002.
K
KACST . . . . . . . . King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, since 1977), home of SRISA (Space Research Institute of Saudi
Arabia) also referred to as RSRI (Riyadh Space Research Institute)
KAIST . . . . . . . . . Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Seoul, Korea,
since 1989). KAIST is a university based research center for science satellite development
KAIST/SaTReC . KAIST/ Satellite Technology Research Center (Daejeon, Korea, since
1989, SaTReC is a university based research center)
KAO . . . . . . . . . . . Kuiper Airborne Observatory (C---141 aircraft of NASA/ARC).
Named after US astromoner Gerard P. Kuiper (1905---1973) of Dutch
descent.
KAPEX . . . . . . . . Cape of Good Hope Experiments (campaign)
KARI . . . . . . . . . . Korea Aerospace Research Institute (Daejeon, Korea, since 1989).
KARI is the key space development center in Korea under MOST
(Ministry of Science and Technology) for space development (600 employees as of 2005)
KASI . . . . . . . . . . Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute --- as of January 2005,
formerly the institute was named KAO (Korea Astronomy Observatory). KASI is the national astronomy research institute of Korea established in 1974.
Kazkosmos . . . . . Kazkosmos is the national space agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
established in March 2007. Kazkosmos is located in Astana, Kazakhstan.
KEEO . . . . . . . . . Kamal Ewida Earth Observatory, Egypt (an early warning facility of
natural disasters). KEEO is in planning as of 2010.
3425
KEOC . . . . . . . . . Korean Earth Observation Center, Seoul, Korea

KfA . . . . . . . . . . . Kernforschungsanlage Jlich (Nuclear Research Center, Jlich, Germany)
KfK . . . . . . . . . . . Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Nuclear Research Center, Karlsruhe, Germany; KfK was renamed to FZK (Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe as of 1995)
KFKI . . . . . . . . . . Hungarian Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics
KH . . . . . . . . . . . . Keyhole (a code name designating a DoD reconnaissance satellite series as well as the principal camera system of the S/C)
KhSC . . . . . . . . . . Khrunichev Space Center, Moscow. Leading company in the development, production, testing, and operation of launch vehicles and spacecraft, utilization of Proton. Participation in programs: Venera, Mars,
Luna, Kosmos, Phobos, Vega, Gorizont, Salyut, MIR, Almaz, Energia---Buran, Zond, etc.
KIAM . . . . . . . . . Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Moscow, Russia
KidSat . . . . . . . . . A NASA---sponsored program (start in 1995, the first Shuttle flight of
Kidsat was on STS---76 in March 1996) to encourage the student and
educator community in space technology involvement, to bring space
exploration into the classrooms. Activities may encounter interpretation of remotely---sensed images, the development of imaging instruments as well as their on---orbit operation. Further Shuttle flights of
KidSat on STS---81 (Jan. 12---22, 1997) and on STS---86 (Sept. 25 --- Oct.
6, 1997). Access to the program is via Internet. KidSat observation missions are carried out on Space Shuttle flights and on the future Space
Station.
KITSAT . . . . . . . . Korea Institute of Technology Satellite (D.26, D.62.6, D.62.10, )
KMA . . . . . . . . . . Korean Meteorological Administration, Seoul, Korea
KNMI . . . . . . . . . Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut (Royal Netherlands
Meteorological Institute) De Bilt, Netherlands, the Dutch Weather
Service.
KOMPSAT . . . . . Korea Multi---Purpose Satellite, D.27
KORDI . . . . . . . . Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, Seoul, Korea,
(since 1973)
KSAS . . . . . . . . . . Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Seoul, Korea
KSAT . . . . . . . . . . Kongsberg Satellite Services AS. KSAT is the largest commercial provider of EO ground station services (TT&C, launch support, etc.) with
HQ in Troms, Norway. The ground stations are located in Troms (69
39 N, 18 56 E), Svalbard (Spitzbergen, 78 15 N, 15 80 E, Svalbard is
also referred to as SvalSat), Grimstad (in the south of Norway located
at 58 20 N, 8 21 E), and the TrollSat ground station in Antarctica (72
S, 2 E, since 2007). The Pole to Pole network can be accessed through
TNOC (Troms Network Operations Center). The antennas are remotely controlled from TNOC. All major space agencies and commercial mission operatiors are using the KSAT station services for maximum coverage of their missions.
KSC . . . . . . . . . . . Kennedy Space Center (NASA facility at Cape Canaveral, FL, USA)
KSEA . . . . . . . . . Korean---American Scientists and Engineers Association (since 1971)
KSLV . . . . . . . . . . Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle (first launch planned in 2007)
KTH . . . . . . . . . . . Kungliga Tekniska Hgskolan (Royal Institute of Technology) Stockholm, Sweden
Kvant GNPP . . . . Kvant State Science and Production Enterprise, Moscow (since 1987,
its predecessor was Kvant NPO). Manufacturer of primary power systems (solar cells and solar arrays). Kvant is/was involved in all, or nearly
all the Soviet/Russian spacecraft, featuring solar arrays. In 1992, Kvant
formed Sovlux joint ventures with Sunflex Inc. USA.
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L
L3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Latitude/Longitude Locator (Shuttle experiment)
L3/IS . . . . . . . . . . L---3 Communications Integrated Systems (HQ in Greenville, TX,
USA)
LAAS . . . . . . . . . . Local Area Augmentation System (GPS). LAAS is FAAs ground--based augmentation system for local area DGPS.
LABEN S.p.A. . . Laboratori Elettronici Nucleari, of Vimodrone (Milano, Italy), Lab of
Alenia Spazio (a Finmeccanica company). LABEN was founded in
1958, it produces electronic systems, transducers, LAGRANGE (LABEN GNSS Receiver for Advanced Navigation), etc.
LABOCA . . . . . . Large APEX Bolometer Camera (a ground---based facility instrument
of ESO in the Atacama desert of Chile installed in the APEX Telescope). LABOCA is a first generation bolometer array. It was installed
in 2006, representing the most sensitive camera for microwave radiation detection. LABOCA consists of 295 channels operating in the 870
m (345 GHz) atmospheric window. LABOCA is cooled to cryogenic
temperatures. The instrument was built by MPIfR (Max---Planck--Institut fr Radioastronomie, Bonn.
LAC . . . . . . . . . . . Local Area Coverage (NOAA downlink mode)
Lacrosse/Vega . . . A DoD/NRO radar imaging satellite reconnaissance program.
Lacrosse---1 was launched Dec. 2, 1988 by Shuttle (STS---27) and went
into a 57 orbit with an altitude of 680 km. Lacrosse---2 was launched
from VAFB on March 8, 1991. Lacrosse---3 was launched from VAFB
on Oct. 24, 1997. Lacrosse---4 was launched from VAFB on Aug. 17,
2000.
LADAR . . . . . . . . Laser Detection and Ranging
LAEFF . . . . . . . . Laboratorio de Astrofisica Espacial Fisica Fundamental (Villafranca,
Spain, Laboratory for Space Astrophysics and Theoretical Physics,
since 1990)
LAGEOS---I,II . . Laser Geodynamics Satellite (NASA/ASI), E.15
LAMBADA . . . . Large---scale Atmospheric Moisture Balance of Amazonia using Data
Assimilation (campaign)
LAN . . . . . . . . . . . Local Area Network
LandSat . . . . . . . . Land (Remote Sensing) Satellite, US EO program, D.28
LANL . . . . . . . . . Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos NM, DOE facility, operated by the University of California). Builder of satellites (ALEXIS,
FORTE, MTI, etc) and instruments for space research (solar wind,
lightning detection). Los Alamos played (and plays) a key role in monitoring treaty compliance with satellite sensors (detecting atmospheric
nuclear tests).
LAPAN . . . . . . . . Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional (Indonesian National
Institute of Aeronautics and Space, Jakarta)
LAP---B . . . . . . . . Link Access Protocol (for B Channels)
LaRC . . . . . . . . . . Langley Research Center (Hampton VA, DAAC of NASA EOS Program)
LASP . . . . . . . . . . Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of
Colorado, Boulder, CO
LASER . . . . . . . . Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
LASSO . . . . . . . . Laser Synchronization from (Geo)Stationary Orbit (ESA, Meteosat)
LAT . . . . . . . . . . . Laboratoire dAstrophysique de Toulouse (France)
LATOR . . . . . . . . Laser Astrometric Test Of Relativity (a proposed fundamental physics
mission of NASA and ESA)
Lavochkin . . . . . . Lavochkina Scientific Production Association, Khimky, Russia
LBH . . . . . . . . . . . Lyman---Birge---Hopefield (spectral bands in the 140---180 nm range)
LCD . . . . . . . . . . . Liquid Crystal Display (a device acting as a valve through which polarized light passes unless blocked by the application of a low voltage)
LCROSS . . . . . . . Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (mission of NASA)
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LCT . . . . . . . . . . . Laser Communication Terminal

LCTF . . . . . . . . . . Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter
LDCE . . . . . . . . . Limited Duration Space Environment Candidate Materials Exposure
(Shuttle experiment)
LDCM . . . . . . . . . Landsat Data Continuity Mission (of NASA, an LDCM launch is considered for the 2005/6 time frame)
LDEF . . . . . . . . . Long Duration Exposure Facility, NASA S/C, J.9
LDEO . . . . . . . . . Lamont---Doherty Earth Observatory (Columbia University, New
York, NY, USA, since 1949)
LDG . . . . . . . . . . Laboratoire de Dtection et de Gophysique, Bruyres---le---Chtel,
France
LDGPS . . . . . . . . Local---Area Differential GPS (generic term for local ground augmentation systems of GPS, like LAAS, JPALS, etc.). LDGPS is a real--time DGPS system that is made available over a relatively small area (in
the order of 100 km radius). Two or more GPS receivers are used to
create a local reference to each other.
LDR . . . . . . . . . . . Large---scale Deployable Reflector [advanced antenna design of ESA
within the LDA (Large Deployable Antenna) program]
LDR . . . . . . . . . . . Linear Depolarization Ratio
LEADEX . . . . . . Arctic Leads Experiment (campaign)
LED . . . . . . . . . . . Light---Emitting Diode (a semiconductor device which becomes luminescent on application of a low voltage)
LEDA . . . . . . . . . Landsat On---Line Earthnet Data Availability (ESA database file)
LEED . . . . . . . . . Low---Energy Electron Diffraction
LEEM . . . . . . . . . Laboratory for Space and Microgravity Research. LEEM is a Spanish
student and young professionals association, involving more than 200
members from eleven universities, with local offices in six Spanish major cities and collaboration agreements with students from three continents.
LEGOS . . . . . . . . Laboratoire dtudes en Gophysique et Ocanographie Spatiale
(Toulouse, France, affiliated with CNES, CNRS and the Universit
Paul Sabatier in Toulouse; research in geophysics, oceanography and
glaciology)
LEO . . . . . . . . . . . Low Earth Orbit (usually for all satellite orbits up to 1000 or 2000 km
altitude; in contrast to geostationary (GEO) orbits at altitudes of about
36000 km)
LEOP . . . . . . . . . . Launch and Early Orbit Phase
LEOS&R . . . . . . LEO Search and Rescue (system flown on LEO S/C)
LeRC . . . . . . . . . . NASA Lewis Research Center (Cleveland, OH, USA). Note: On
March 1, 1999, LeRC was renamed to NASAs John H. Glenn Research
Center (GRC) at Lewis Field, OH.
LERTS . . . . . . . . . Laboratoire dEtudes et de Recherches en Tldtection Spatiale (Toulouse, France, belongs to CNES/CNRS, renamed to CESBIO as of
1995)
LES . . . . . . . . . . . Lincoln (Laboratory) Experimental Satellite. A DoD microsatellite series (up to LES---4) and minisatellite series (LES---5 to LES---9) designed and built at MIT/LL (test of communication technologies).
Launch of LES---1 on Feb. 11, 1965; launch of the LES---8/9 pair on
March 15, 1976
LET . . . . . . . . . . . Light Emitting Transistor (invented in 2003 at the University of Illinois
at Urbana---Champaign) 5908)
LETI . . . . . . . . . . Laboratoire dElectronique de Technologie et dInstrumentation (at
Grenoble, France)
LEWEX . . . . . . . Labrador Extreme Wave Experiment (campaign)
LF . . . . . . . . . . . . Low Frequency (30 --- 300 kHz band)
_____________________
5908) M. Feng, N. Holoyak, W. Hafez, Light---emitting transistor: Light emission from InGaP/GaAs heterojunction
bipolar transistors, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 84, No 1, Jan. 5, 2004, pp. 151---153
3428
LFC . . . . . . . . . . . Large Format Camera, J.10

LFM . . . . . . . . . . . Linear Frequency Modulated (chirp signal of a radar system)
LFM---CW . . . . . . Linear Frequency Modulated---Continuous Wave (radar). Note: The
LFM---CW operation requires less power than a comparable pulsed
SAR and enables hardware which is less complicated, and thus easier to
fabricate.
LFSAH . . . . . . . . Light Weight Flexible Solar Array Hinge (Shuttle payload)
LGA . . . . . . . . . . . Low Gain Antenna
LHCP . . . . . . . . . Left Hand Circural Polarization
LHP . . . . . . . . . . . Loop Heat Pipe (Shuttle Experiment)
LH Systems . . . . . LH Systems LLC, with company HQ in San Diego, CA (airborne cameras). In 1997, Leica AG of Heerbrugg (photogrammetry and aerial
camera systems), Switzerland, formed a joint venture with BAE SYSTEMS, Inc. of San Diego, CA, and with Helava Associates Inc. a subsidiary of GDE Systems. The new company is called LH Systems LLC
in San Diego and LH Systems GmbH in Heerbrugg, Switzerland
Li---Ion (or LI) . . Lithium---Ion (battery type)
Li---Po . . . . . . . . . Lithium---Polymer (battery type)
LIDAR . . . . . . . . Light Detection and Ranging
LIF . . . . . . . . . . . . Laser---Induced Fluorescence (active remote sensing method)
LIFT . . . . . . . . . . Laser Induced Fluorescence Transient (a method to measure photosynthetic properties in terrestrial plants)
LIGA . . . . . . . . . . LIthographie, Galvanoformung und Abformung (lithography, electroplating and moulding)
LIGO . . . . . . . . . . Laser Interferometric Gravitational---wave Observatory
LIMEX . . . . . . . . Labrador Ice Margin Experiment (campaign)
LISA . . . . . . . . . . Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (a three S/C cooperative mission
of ESA and NASA, with a proposed launch in 2011). The objective is to
study low---frequency gravitational waves from galactic and extra--galactic binary systems. The three S/C are separated some 5,000,000 km
apart, forming an equilateral triangle (a giant interferometer). Plans
call for LISAs trio of identical S/C to orbit the sun at the same distance
as Earth, but trailing about 50 million km in orbit behind our planet.
LISS . . . . . . . . . . . Linear Imaging Self---Scanning Sensor (ISRO sensor series)
LITE . . . . . . . . . . Lidar In---space Technology Experiment, Shuttle mission, J.11
LLNL . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore, CA, a DOE lab
managed by the University of California)
LLRP . . . . . . . . . . Lunar Laser Ranging Program (NASA). LLRP was started by the
Apollo---11 mission (July 21, 1969) which installed a retroreflector array on the moon. Two more retroreflector arrays were left by the Apollo
14 and Apollo 15 missions --- referred to as the Apollo CCRs (Corner
Cube Reflector) arrays.
LLRRA---21 . . . . Lunar Laser Ranging Retroreflector Array for the 21st century. (2nd
generation LLR)
LLV1 (or 2) . . . . . Lockheed Launch Vehicle 1 (or 2)
LM . . . . . . . . . . . . Lockheed Martin Corporation, HQ at Bethesda, MD. The worlds largest space company resulted in 1995 as a merger of the former Lockheed
Missiles and Space Co. with the former Martin Marietta Astronautics
and Martin Marietta Astro Space (which itself is based on former GE
Astro Space). The new LM structure has five sectors, each with operating units and subsidiaries. The sectors are: Aeronautics, Electronics,
Energy, Information & Services, and Space & Strategic Missiles.
LMMS (see below), LMSS Space Systems---Astronautics (Denver,
CO), LM Telecommunications (Sunnyvale, CA) are units of the Space
& Strategic Missiles sector. Total LM employment is about 170,000.
LMC . . . . . . . . . . Lightweight Mission Peculiar Support Structure Carrier (Shuttle structure)
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LMD . . . . . . . . . . Laboratoire de Mtorologie Dynamique, Palaiseau (Lab of CNRS,

France)
LMI . . . . . . . . . . . Lockheed Martin Intersputnik, a joint venture company (since 1997) of
Lockheed Martin Corporation and the Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications
LMLV . . . . . . . . . Lockheed Martin Launch Vehicle [after its first successful flight, Aug.
23, 1997 (Lewis S/C), LMLV was renamed to Athena the Greek goddess of wisdom)]
LMMS . . . . . . . . . Lockheed Martin Missile & Space Company (HQ at Sunnyvale, CA).
LMMS is a major builder of satellites and sensors for civil (TIROS,
AM---1, ISS, HST, Gravity Probe---B, Wind, Polar, Landsat---7,
TRACE, etc.) and military (DMSP, GPS, etc.) US space programs as
well as for commercial Earth observation programs (CRSS, etc.).
LMMS has a workforce of about 19,000 employees and maintains facilities at the following locations: Huntsville, AL; Cape Canaveral, FL;
Kings Bay, GA; East Windsor, NJ; Valley Forge, PA; Charleston, SC;
Magna, UT; Bangor, WA; and Sunnyvale, Santa Cruz, Palo Alto and
VAFB, all in CA. LMMS is also the manufacturer of the following standard platform series (communication satellite buses): S3000, S4000,
S5000, S7000, and A2100; and the manufacturer of Motorolas Iridium
system (now Iridium Satellite LLC).
LMS . . . . . . . . . . . Life and Microgravity Spacelab (Shuttle mission)
LMT . . . . . . . . . . . Liquid Mirror Telescope
LNA . . . . . . . . . . . Low Noise Amplifier
LNETI . . . . . . . . . Laboratorio Nacional de Engenhario e Technologia Industrial (PoSAT
consortium, Portugal)
LO . . . . . . . . . . . . Local Oscillator
LOA . . . . . . . . . . . Laboratoire dOptique Atmosphrique, (of CNRS, at the University of
Sciences and Technology, Lille, France)
LOICZ . . . . . . . . . Land---Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (core program of
IGBP)
LOMO . . . . . . . . . Leningrad Optical---Mechanical Enterprise (telescope provider, St.
Petersburg, Russia)
LORAN . . . . . . . . Long Range Aid to Navigation (a radionavigation system as well as an
instrument name). LORAN---C operates on 100 kHz and is a maritime
and aeronautical radionavigation system.
LOS . . . . . . . . . . . Loss of Signal
LOS . . . . . . . . . . . Line of Sight
LOTREX . . . . . . Landoberflchen---Traversen Experiment (campaign)
LoWPAN . . . . . . . Internet Protocol Low power Wireless Personal Area Network. Actually 6LoWPAN of IPv6 technology.
LOWS . . . . . . . . . Lake Ontario Winter Storms (campaign)
LOWTRAN . . . . LOW---resolution TRANsmittance a computer code (model of USAF
Geophysics Laboratory), see Glossary.
LPCE . . . . . . . . . . Laboratoire de Physique et de Chimie de lEnvironment (CNRS), Orleans, France
LPCM . . . . . . . . . Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Marines (CNRS), Villefranche--sur---mer, France
LPI . . . . . . . . . . . . Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX, USA
LQR . . . . . . . . . . . Linear Quadratic Regulator (controller device)
LRIT . . . . . . . . . . Long---Range Identification and Tracking [a standard being introduced
in the shipborne AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponder
system as a means of enhancing maritime security]. AIS is desined to
transmit information such as vessel identification, position, heading,
destination, nature of cargo, etc. Ships send reports every 2---10 seconds. AIS is a new mandatory element under the UN SOLAS (Safety of
Life at Sea) convention, adopted by the SOLAS Conference in 2002 --and entered into force July 1, 2004.
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LRIT . . . . . . . . . . Low Rate Information Transmission [a standard digital broadcast service used in meteorological satellites such as MSG series of EUMETSAT, MTSAT of JAXA, also starting with GOES---12 (2005) of NOAA,
etc.]. LRIT replaced the older WEFAX transmission standard.
LRO . . . . . . . . . . . Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (NASA)
LRPT . . . . . . . . . . Low Resolution Picture Transmission (NOAA downlink technique in
S---band, LRPT is a successor to APT)
LRR . . . . . . . . . . . Laser Retro---Reflector
LS . . . . . . . . . . . . . Landsat Satellite Series of NOAA
LSM . . . . . . . . . . . Land Surface Model
LSPIM . . . . . . . . . Land Surface Processes and Interactions Mission (in ESAs Earth Explorer Program), see SPECTRA
LST . . . . . . . . . . . Land Surface Temperature
LTAN . . . . . . . . . . Local Time on Ascending Node (orbit parameter)
LTCC . . . . . . . . . . Low---Temperature Co---fired Ceramics (a key technology for passive
integration of electronic components like capacitors, inductors and varistors) --- yielding highly integrated multifunction LTCC modules.
LTCC technology is a low cost process for fabricating multi---layer ceramic structures. Its a versatile technology that is well suited to realizing
innovative RF and microwave components and subsystems.
LTDN . . . . . . . . . Local Time on Descending Node (orbit parameter)
LTDP . . . . . . . . . . Long Term Data Preservation (an archiving policy for archive maintenance and data integrity that is being adopted by several space agencies
in Europe and elsewhere). ESA initiated a coordination of LTDP in
2006.
LTER . . . . . . . . . . Long---Term Ecological Research (NFS program that started in 1981,
there are 19 major sites within LTER spread throughout the US)
LTS . . . . . . . . . . . Low Temperature Superconductivity (refers to conductor material levels at liquid helium temperatures, Tc = 4 K)
LUCC . . . . . . . . . Land---Use/Cover Change (IGBP program)
LUT . . . . . . . . . . . Local User Terminal (NOAA concept for S&R reception)
LuxSpace . . . . . . . LuxSpace, located in Luxembourg, is a subsidiary of OHB Technology
AG, Bremen (since 204)
LVDS . . . . . . . . . . Low Voltage Differential Signaling (a broadband signaling service).
LVDS is a low---power, low---noise differential signaling technology for
high speed transmission (data rates up to 1 Gbit/s). Optimized for
point---to---point configurations in telecom, datacom, peripherals and
displays, LVDS delivers the bandwidth necessary for driving large data
rates over PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and cable. LVDS was standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)/Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). As of March 1996, the ANSI/TIA/EIA---644---1995 standard specifies the physical layer as an electronic interface. LVDS is used
in SpaceWire.
LVPS . . . . . . . . . . Low Voltage Power Supply
LWIR . . . . . . . . . . Long---Wavelength Infrared (6---14 mm) same range as TIR
LWS . . . . . . . . . . . Living With a Star (an international program initiated in 1999 to advance the understanding of space weather). The following projects are
within LWS: SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory), Geospace Storm
Probes, Space Environment Testbeds (SETs), Solar Sentinels, Coronas---F, Coronas---Foton, etc.
M
MAB . . . . . . . . . . Man and Biosphere Programme (UNESCO, since 1989)
MABL . . . . . . . . . Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer
MAC . . . . . . . . . . Multiphase Atmospheric Chemistry (IGBP/IGAC program)
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MACE . . . . . . . . . Middeck Active Control Experiment (of NASA and AFRL on Shuttle).
MACE and MACE---II (AFRL) are designed to investigate modeling
and control issues (high precision pointing and vibration control)
MAC---Europe . . Multisensor Airborne Campaign --- Europe
MACH---1 . . . . . . Multiple Application Customized Hitchhiker---1 (a Shuttle payload
container)
MACRES . . . . . . Malaysian Center for Remote Sensing (since 1988, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia), also known as Pusat Remote Sensing Negara. MACRES has
a ground receiving station since 2003
MACSI . . . . . . . . Microwave Airborne Campaign over Snow and Ice (campaign)
MAESA . . . . . . . . Measurement for Assessing the Effects of Stratospheric Aircraft (campaign)
MAESTRO . . . . . Mission Adaptive Environment for Spacecraft Test and Real---time
Operations (a ground---based spacecraft command and control system
of Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, VA)
MAESTRO . . . . . Multiple Airborne Experiments Towards Radar Observations (campaign)
MAGE . . . . . . . . . Marine Aerosol and Gas Experiment (campaign)
Magnetite . . . . . . Fe3O4 (oldest known magnetic mineral on Earth)
Magnolia/MFE . . (MFE = Magnetic Field Experiment) A joint French/US program
(proposal status) for long---term (>5 years) monitoring of the Earths
magnetic field and its temporal variations (objectives: main field model, secular variations, core motion determination, electrical conductivity of the mantle)
MAGS . . . . . . . . . Mackenzie River GEWEX Study (campaign)
MAHLOVS . . . . Middle and High---Latitude Oceanic Variability Study
MAMA . . . . . . . . Multi---Anode Michrochannel Array (detector type)
MANET . . . . . . . Mobile Ad---hoc Networks
MAN Technologie Maschinenfabrik Augsburg, Nrnberg --- Technologie, of Augsburg (a
subsidiary of the MAN Group of Munich, Germany, since 1908). MAN
Technologie provides components of the Ariane---4 and ---5 launch vehicles. --- As of June 2005, MAN Technology was acquired by OHB
Technology of Bremen, Germany.
MAP . . . . . . . . . . Mesoscale Alpine Programme (campaign)
MAP . . . . . . . . . . Microwave Anisotropy Probe (NASA S/C mission within the MIDEX
program, measurement of the full sky cosmic microwave radiation)
MAPLD . . . . . . . Military and Aerospace Applications of Programmable Devices and
Technologies (yearly International Conference)
MAPS . . . . . . . . . Measurement of Air Pollution from Space Radiometer (Shuttle
OSTA---1 experiment during STS---2 in Nov. 1981, and STS---59), J.13
MARISS . . . . . . . MARitime Security Service. MARISS is a European initiative within
the GMES Service Element (GSE)
MARSAIS . . . . . . Marine SAR Analysis and Interpretation Ssystem (EU---funded project with the aim to design and implement a generic Marine SAR Analysis and Interpretation System for specific application to the coastal
zones)
MARSIS . . . . . . . Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (an
instrument on ESAs Mars Express mission)
MASER . . . . . . . . Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
MAST . . . . . . . . . Military Application of Ship Tracks (Shuttle)
MAST . . . . . . . . . Monterey Area Ship Tracks (campaign)
MAST . . . . . . . . . Marine Science and Technology (campaign)
MASTEX . . . . . . Mediterranean Aircraft---Ship Transmission Experiment (campaign)
MAUS . . . . . . . . . Material Science Autonomous Payload (Shuttle D2 mission)
MAXIM . . . . . . . Micro---Arcsecond X---ray Imaging Mission (NASA spacecraft formation fleet of 33 S/C --- representing a giant telescope directed toward
the universe). The time frame for this mission launch is beyond 2015.
3432
MBA . . . . . . . . . . Microbolometer Array (detector type)

MBARI . . . . . . . . Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Monterey, CA
MBB . . . . . . . . . . Messerschmitt Blkow & Blohm (Munich, Germany, since 1989 MBB
was integrated into the DASA conglamorate)
MBE . . . . . . . . . . Molecular Beam Epitaxy [a technique (developed by Bell Labs of
AT&T in 1968) to grow perfect crystals, atom by atom, over areas vast
on an atomic scale. Applications: the production of photodiode arrays,
quantum wells, heterojunction structures, etc.]
MBL . . . . . . . . . . Marine Boundary Layer
MBRW . . . . . . . . Magnetic Bearing Reaction Wheels (an onboard actuator device and a
technique to unload the momentum of a spacecraft)
MBOC . . . . . . . . . Multiplexed Binary Offset Carrier (a common modulation scheme for
the civil signals of the GPS and Galileo constellations that was greed
upon by US and EU delegations on July 26, 2007). MBOC permits receivers to track the GPS and/or Galileo signals.
MC2A . . . . . . . . . Multisensor Command and Control Aircraft (next---generation USAF
surveillance platform including JSTARS)
MCC . . . . . . . . . . Mission Control Center
MCFilghtTM . . . . MultiCore Flight [a family of customizable SOC (System---on---Chip)
chips with SpaceWire links and tools], St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia
MCHIP/s . . . . . . . CHIP stands for Yes/No sequences in data transmissions. One
MCHIP/s = 1 million information sequences/s
MCM---S . . . . . . . Multi---Chip---Module on Silicon (MCM is the evolution of the PCB
board)
MCP . . . . . . . . . . Meteorological Communications Package (Meteosat). MCP permits
direct data access to the operational meteorological instruments in full
resolution during a pass. MCP allows in addition the transmission of
global data sets for central ground stations.
MCP . . . . . . . . . . Microchannel Plate (detector)
MCSA . . . . . . . . . MIR Cooperative Solar Array (installation on MIR by STS---74 crew)
MCT . . . . . . . . . . Mercury Cadmium Telluride (detector material, HgCdTe, also referred
to as HCT detector)
MCTEX . . . . . . . Marine---Continental Thunderstorm Experiment (campaign)
MDA . . . . . . . . . . MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd, Richmond, BC, Canada
(since 1969, MDA is Canadas leading space company with over 2700
employees, a developer of SAR processors, operator of Radarsat---2,
etc.).
MDA . . . . . . . . . . Missile Defense Agency [US, since 2002, formerly known as BMDO
(Ballistic Missile Defense Organization)]
MDL . . . . . . . . . . Multi---use Data Link (GOES Second Generation S/C)
MDP . . . . . . . . . . Multicast Dissemination Protocol [an OSI application layer protocol; it
operates over the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transport layer]
MDT . . . . . . . . . . Mean Down Time
MEDALUS . . . . . Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use (campaign)
MEDEA . . . . . . . Material Science Experiment Double Rack for Experiment Modules
and Apparatus (Shuttle experiment)
MEDS . . . . . . . . . Marine Environmental Data Service (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
MEEP . . . . . . . . . MIR Environmental Effects Payload (Shuttle payload)
MEG . . . . . . . . . . Magneto---Encephalography (medical X---ray imagery)
MEI . . . . . . . . . . . Moscow State Aviation Institute (Department of Spacecraft Electric
Propulsion and Power Plants)
MELCO . . . . . . . Mitsubishi Electric Company, Tokyo, Japan
MELEO . . . . . . . Materials Exposure in Low Earth Orbit (Shuttle experiment)
MELV . . . . . . . . . Medium Expendable Launch Vehicle (EOS program)
MEMS . . . . . . . . . Micro---Electromechanical System (sensor technology), also Shuttle
payload
3433
MEO . . . . . . . . . . Medium Earth Orbit (altitude range of about 5000 --- 25000 km)
MFD . . . . . . . . . . Manipulator Flight Demonstration (Shuttle payload, JEM flight
demo)
Megha---Tropiques
A CNES/ISRO minisatellite EO mission considered for launch in
2005. Note: Megha is the Hindi word for clouds.
MEPhI . . . . . . . . . Moscow Engineering Physics Institute
MEPSI . . . . . . . . . MEMS---based PicoSat Inspector (of AFRL flown on various missions
like JAWSAT/OPAL, MightySat II.1, Shuttle payload, see also M.46)
MERSEA . . . . . . Marine Environment and Security for the European Area (oceanic
component of the GMES program)
MERIT . . . . . . . . Measure Earth Rotation and Intercompare the Techniques (an International Earth Rotation Service Program)
Meteo---France . . Meteorological agency of France (Toulouse, Brest, etc.)
METI . . . . . . . . . . Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan, as of Jan. 6, 2001, previously it was known as MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry)
METEOR . . . . . . Russian meteorological satellite family, G.4 --- G.8
METEOSAT . . . . European meteorological satellite series of EUMETSAT, F.8
METOC . . . . . . . Meteorology & Oceanography [a US Navy program considering everything from weather observation (instruments), operations of the system, GIS services, to oceanography applications and the combination
of both functions]
MetOp . . . . . . . . . EUMETSAT Meteorological Operational satellite series, G.2.1
METRI . . . . . . . . Meteorological Research Institute, Seoul, Korea (since 1970)
MeV . . . . . . . . . . . Mega---electron volt
MEXT . . . . . . . . . Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Tokyo, Japan)
MF . . . . . . . . . . . . Medium Frequency (300 --- 3000 kHz band)
MFC . . . . . . . . . . Macro---Fiber Composite (a NASA/LaRC invention --- a device that
can act like muscle and nerves to expand and contract surfaces)
MFLOPS . . . . . . . Million Floating Point Operations per Second (a measure of computer
power)
MF---TDMA . . . . Multi---Frequency Time Division Multiple Access (modulation technique)
MGBX . . . . . . . . . Microgravity Glovebox Facility (Shuttle payload)
MGM . . . . . . . . . . Mechanics of Granular Materials (Shuttle payload)
MDH . . . . . . . . . . Magnetohydrodynamics (a device using MDH technology may provide
the functions of actuator/sensor in an attitude control system)
MHS . . . . . . . . . . Message Handling System (MOTIS is the ISO definition of MHS)
MHT . . . . . . . . . . Matra Hautes Technologies, France, (MHTs parent company is the
Ladardere Groupe; Matra Marconi Space (MMS) is a unit of MHT)
Microlab . . . . . . . OSC satellite renamed to OrbView---1, B.11
Microscope . . . . . MICROSatellite trane Compense pour lObservation du Principe
dEquivalence (a CNES microsatellite mission within Myriade), M.28.2
MIDEX . . . . . . . . Medium---class Explorers (NASA program). A series of cost and schedule---capped programs, led by a PI and funded by NASA.
MIGITS . . . . . . . . Miniature Integrated GPS/INS Tactical System (a family of GPS---related receiver systems of Boeing Co.)
MilliLab . . . . . . . . Millimeterwave Laboratory of Finland (since 1995); a joint laboratory
between VTT (Technical Research Center of Finland) and HUT (Helsinki University of Technology).
MILOX . . . . . . . . Mid---Latitude Ecosystems and Photochemical Oxidants (IGBP/
IGAC)
MIL---STD---1553B
A communications bus standard --- an LNA (Local Area Network)
in aircraft or spacecraft --- which defines the electrical and protocol
characteristics for a data bus. The structure of the bus consists of a
3434
MILSTAR . . . . . .
MIMO . . . . . . . . .
MIMO radar . . . .
Minotaur . . . . . . .
MIP . . . . . . . . . . .
MIR . . . . . . . . . . .
MIRAS . . . . . . . .
MIREX . . . . . . . .
MIRSL . . . . . . . .
MIRP . . . . . . . . . .
MIS---1, ---B . . . . .
MISSE . . . . . . . . .
MIST . . . . . . . . . .
MISU . . . . . . . . . .
MIT . . . . . . . . . . .
MIT/ERL . . . . . .
MIT/LL . . . . . . . .
MITA . . . . . . . . . .
MITI . . . . . . . . . .
MITRE Corp. . . .
MIZ . . . . . . . . . . .
MIZEX . . . . . . . .

single bus controller connected to remote terminals (up to 31 max can
be used).
Military Strategic and Tactical Relay (heritage of STP). MILSTAR is a
series of advanced US military (DoD) communication satellites. The
first two Block 1 spacecraft, launched in 1995, will eventually be replaced by the Block 2 Milstar 3 through 6, which are scheduled for
launch beginning in 1999.
Multiple---Input Multiple---Output (antenna array or radio system
technology)
Multiple---Input Multiple---Output (MIMO) radar is an emerging technology that has significant potential for advancing the state---of---the--art of modern radar (SAR). When orthogonal waveforms are transmitted, with M+N (N transmit and M receive) antennas, an MN---element
filled virtual array can be obtained. To successfully utilize such an array
for high---resolution MIMO radar imaging, constant---modulus transmit signal synthesis and optimal receive filter design play critical roles.
--- The MIMO SAR is an emerging active sensing radar technology in
the early 21st century --- from the system implementation point of view,
as well as for signal processing techniques for target detection and parameter estimation.
An OSC (Dulles, VA) launch vehicle. The Minotaur is a four---stage vehicle with the first and second stages being Minuteman---II stages; the
two upper stages come from OSCs Pegasus launcher. OSCs Minotaur
is also known as the Orbital/Suborbital Program Space Launch Vehicle. The US Air Force developed the Orbital/Suborbital Program as
a way to cheaply launch small military payloads. OSC integrates the Minotaur launch vehicles and conducts launch operations under an Air
Force contract.
Mobile IP (Internet Protocol), the TCP/IP technique (satellite links) is
providing such application services as SSH (Secure Shell), SCP (Secure
Copy), NTP (Network Time Protocol), and MDP (Multicast Dissemination Protocol)
Russian Space Station, L.3
MIR Infrared Spectrometer (note: this is a modified GRILLE sensor
by ISA on the Shuttle ATLAS---1 mission)
MIR International amateur Radio Experiment
Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (U. of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA)
Manipulated Information Rate Processor (NOAA S/C subsystem)
Microcapsules in Space---1 (Shuttle experiment)
Materials International Space Station Experiment (a NASA program
on the ISS to characterize the performance, stability, and long---term
survivability of materials)
Microbursts and Severe Thunderstorms (campaign)
Meteorological Institute of Stockholm University (Stockholm, Sweden)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
MIT/Earth Resources Laboratory (Cambridge, MA, since 1982)
MIT/Lincoln Laboratory (Lexington, MA, since 1951)
Microsatellite Italiano a Tecnologia Avanza (Italian Advanced Microsatellite platform), ASI standard platform
Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Japan) Note: On Jan. 6.
2001, MITI was renamed to METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) as a result of governmental restructuring.
A non---profit US corporation comprised of two federally funded research and development centers. MITRE HQs are in Bedford, MA.
Marginal Ice Zone
Marginal Ice Zone Experiment (campaign)

MLE . . . . . . . . . .
MLI . . . . . . . . . . .
MLML . . . . . . . . .
MLOPEX . . . . . .
MLR . . . . . . . . . .
MLRO . . . . . . . . .
MLS . . . . . . . . . . .
MLST . . . . . . . . .
MLT . . . . . . . . . . .
MLTI . . . . . . . . . .
MLV---05 . . . . . . .
MMA . . . . . . . . . .
MMA . . . . . . . . . .
MMIC . . . . . . . . .
MMS . . . . . . . . . .
MMS . . . . . . . . . .
MMU . . . . . . . . . .
MMW . . . . . . . . .
MNT . . . . . . . . . .
MOBILHY . . . . .
MOBLAS . . . . . .
MOCE . . . . . . . . .
MOCVD . . . . . . .
MoD . . . . . . . . . .
MODE . . . . . . . .
MO Disk . . . . . . .
MOD . . . . . . . . . .
MODTRAN . . . .
MOEMS . . . . . . .
MOMS . . . . . . . .
MONEX . . . . . . .
MOP . . . . . . . . . .
MOS . . . . . . . . . .
3435
Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (Shuttle payload)

Multi---Layered Insulation (highly reflective blankets in a spacecraft)
Marine Light---Mixed Layers (campaign program and a moored site)
Mauna Loa Observatory Photochemistry Experiment (campaign)
Monodisperse Latex Reactor (Shuttle experiment)
Matera Laser Ranging Observatory (Matera, Italy)
Microwave Landing System (cancelled by FAA in 1994)
Mean Local Solar Time (on ascending or descending node, orbital parameter)
Mach---Lorentz Thruster (a new propulsion concept under investigation)
Mesosphere and Lower---Thermosphere/Ionosphere (altitude from
about 60 to 180 km)
Medium Launch Vehicle---2005 (of DoD). The MLV---05 mission represents a multi---satellite launch of EO---3 (GIFTS---IOMI) as the
prime payload, and the secondary payloads: three TechSat---21 minisatellites, STPSat---1, and NPSat---1.
Microgravity Measurement Assembly (ESA payload on Shuttle)
Micro Mirror Array (a MOEMS device)
Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuit (also: Millimeter---wave
Monolithic Integrated Circuit)
Magnetospheric Multi---Scale (planned mission of NASA in 2008)
Matra Marconi Space [of France (HQ at Velizy, and major assembly
plant at Toulouse) and UK (Bristol, Portsmouth, Stevenage)]. MMS
was formed in 1990 by Matra Espace of France (Lagardre) and Marconi Space Systems (GEC) of UK (since 1994). MMS employs 5,000
people, 2300 in France and 2700 in the UK. MMS covers science
(SOHO, Giotto, Hipparcos), Earth observation (Spot series, ERS, Polar Platform for Envisat, Metop), communications (builder of the Eurostar and Leostar platforms) launch vehicles, military reconnaissance
S/C (Helios), etc. MMS is also an EO instrument builder (HRV on Spot
series, ASAR, GOMOS, AASTR, SEVIRI, etc.) --- As of 2000 MMS is
called Astrium SAS in France and Astrium Ltd. in the UK (see Astrium)
Memory Management Unit (also referred to as Mass Memory Unit)
Millimeter Wave (spectral range of 1mm to 10 mm)
Micro---Nano---Technology
Modlisation du Bilan Hydrique (HAPEX campaign)
Mobile Laser System (USA)
Marine Optical Characterization Experiment (campaign)
Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition
Ministry of Defence (London, UK)
Middeck 0---Gravity Dynamics Experiment (Shuttle payload)
Magneto---Optical Disk
Metal Organic Decomposition
Moderate---resolution LOWTRAN (see glossary under LOWTRAN)
Micro Opto---Electro---Mechanical System, MOEMS derive their
functionality through the miniaturization of optics, electronics and mechanics
Modular Optoelectronic Multispectral Scanner (Shuttle payload of
1983 and 84), J.14 and J.15
Monsoon Experiment (campaign)
Meteosat Operational Programme (European series of weather satellites from EUMETSAT)
Marine Observation Satellite (NASDA Satellite, MOS---1 Launch:
1987, MOS---1b launch: Feb. 1989), D.34
3436
MOS . . . . . . . . . . Metal---Oxide Semiconductor (solid---state technology); CMOS =

Complementary MOS
MOSAIC . . . . . . . Micro Satellite Applications in Collaboration (a microsatellite program of BNSC, UK which started in 2000)
MOSFET . . . . . . Field---Effect Transistor (FET) using MOS technology
MOSES . . . . . . . . Molecules in Outer Space and Earth Stratosphere (Swedish Mission,
renamed ODIN), A.23
MOST . . . . . . . . . Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars (a microsatellite mission of
CSA, Canada)
MOST . . . . . . . . . Ministry of Science and Technology (China)
MOVPE . . . . . . . Metal---organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (a growth technique)
MOZAIC . . . . . . Measurement of Ozone by Airbus In---Service Aircraft, P.41.1
M2P2 . . . . . . . . . . Mini---Magnetospheric Plasma Propulsion (a new propulsion system/
technique, funded by NASA. The technology creates an electromagnetic bubble around a S/C and lets the solar wind push the S/C) 5909)
MPAe . . . . . . . . . . Max---Planck---Institut fr Aeronomie (Katlenburg---Lindau, Germany), since 1957, in 2004 MPAe changed its name to MPS (Max Plack Institute for Solar Reseach)
MPDS . . . . . . . . . Mobile Packet Data Service
MPE . . . . . . . . . . . Max---Planck---Institut fr Extraterrestrik (Garching, Germany)
MPEG . . . . . . . . . Motion Pictures Experts Group [compression/decompression standard for data, MPEG---1 is a video coding standard for small images on
internet (since 1993), MPEG---2 is a standard for high---quality video
images (since 1996)]
MPEI . . . . . . . . . . Moscow Power Engineering Institute, builder of EO instruments like
radiometers [also known as SRB/MPEI (Special Research Bureau of
MPEI)]
MPG . . . . . . . . . . Max---Planck---Gesellschaft zur Frderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
(Germany). MPG is the single largest government---funded research
organization in Germany. MPG is the successor of the Kaiser---Wilhelm---Gesellschaft founded in 1911. MPG maintains 68 research centers (and extensions), referred to as MPIs (Max Planck Institutes),
throughout Germany. The organization employs about 11,000 people,
including some 3000 scientists. In addition to its workforce MPG hosts
a large number of (more than 5000 mostly on a yearly basis) research
fellows, doctoral candidates, and guest scientists from other institutions. Basic research in the natural and human sciences is emphasized
in all MPIs. Major fields of research are: physics, chemistry, biology,
physical chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, computer science, and
medicine.
MPI . . . . . . . . . . . Max---Planck---Institut (generic)
MPIA . . . . . . . . . . Max Planck Institut fr Astronomie (Heidelberg, Germany)
MPICh . . . . . . . . . Max---Planck---Institut fr Chemie (Mainz, Germany)
MPIfM . . . . . . . . . Max---Planck---Institut fr Meteorologie (Hamburg, Germany)
MPIK . . . . . . . . . . Max---Planck---Institut fr Kernphysik (Heidelberg, Germany)
MPLS . . . . . . . . . . Multi Protocol Label Switching --- an architecture for fast packet
switching and routing, provides the designation, routing, forwarding
and switching of traffic flows through the network. MPLS has mechanisms to manage traffic flows of various granularities.
MPNE . . . . . . . . . Microgravity Plant Nutrient Experiment (Shuttle payload)
MPS . . . . . . . . . . . Max Plack Institute for Solar Reseach (Katlenburg---Lindau, Germany), formerly known as MPAe.
MPSE . . . . . . . . . Morelos Payload Specialist Experiments (Shuttle payload)
MPT . . . . . . . . . . . Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication (Tokyo, Japan)
_____________________
5909) http://www.niac.usra.edu/Topics/Summary_Pages/Robert_Winglee.html
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MRAM . . . . . . . . Magnetic Random Access Memory (an emerging storage technology as

of 2004, combining the techniques of DRAM, SRAM and the nonvolatility of flash memory)
MREFC . . . . . . . . Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (at NSF within
the framework of EarthScope)
MRF . . . . . . . . . . Meteorological Research Flight (UK)
MRI . . . . . . . . . . . Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRR . . . . . . . . . . Modulating Retroreflector (an optical MRR is a device that couples an
optical retroreflector with a modulator)
MS . . . . . . . . . . . . Multispectral (data)
MSAS . . . . . . . . . Multi---Transport Satellite Augmentation System (GNSS---1 element
of Japan)
MSC . . . . . . . . . . . Meteorological Service of Canada
MSCI . . . . . . . . . . Microsat Systems Canada Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (MSCI
was formerly the Space Division of Dynacon Inc.)
MSFC . . . . . . . . . Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, AL, DAAC of NASA EOS
Program; Note: MSFC/DAAC closed as of March 31, 1997 due to reduced NASA budgets)
MSG . . . . . . . . . . Meteosat Second Generation (satellite series of EUMETSAT)
MSI . . . . . . . . . . . MicroSat Systems Inc., Littleton, CO (since 2001, a daughter of ITN
Energy Systems Inc.). In 2008, SNC (Sierra Nevada Corporation) acquired MSI making MicroSat Systems a wholly owned subsidiary.
MSK . . . . . . . . . . . Minimum Shift Keying
MSL . . . . . . . . . . . Material Science Laboratory (Shuttle payload)
MSP . . . . . . . . . . . Millisecond Pulsar (a pulsar with a rotational period in the range of
about 1---10 milliseconds). An MSP may be visible in the microwave or
X---ray portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
MSS . . . . . . . . . . . Mobile Satellite Service (commercial telecommunication services)
MSS . . . . . . . . . . . Mobile Servicing System [a robotics system consisting of the elements:
SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System), SPDM (Special
Purpose Dexterous Manipulator) known as Dextre, and MBS (Remote
Mobile Server Base System), all systems are built by Canada, that will
be used to assemble and maintain the ISS (International Space Station)]
MSSL . . . . . . . . . . Mullard Space Science Laboratory (University College London, UK)
MSSS . . . . . . . . . . Malin Space Science Systems, Inc. San Diego, CA. (since 1990, builder
of space instruments)
MSTI . . . . . . . . . . Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (a Phillips Laboratory
technology demonstration program, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque,
NM)
MSU---E . . . . . . . Multispectral Scanner --- Electronic Scanning
MSU---K . . . . . . . Multispectral Scanner --- Circular Scanning
MSU---M . . . . . . . Multispectral Scanner --- Low Resolution
MSU---S . . . . . . . . Multispectral Scanner---Moderate Resolution
MSU---SK . . . . . . Multispectral Scanner---Moderate Resolution,Conical Scanning
MSW . . . . . . . . . . Medium and Short Wave (spectrum)
MSX . . . . . . . . . . Midcourse Space Experiment (DoD mission, M.27, Note: MSX experiments are also performed from several Shuttle missions in conjunction
with the MSX spacecraft)
MTBF . . . . . . . . . Mean Time Between Failure
MTF . . . . . . . . . . . Modulation Transfer Function
MTG . . . . . . . . . . Meteosat Third Generation (satellite series of EUMETSAT, planned
for launch in time frame of 2015, in study phase as of 2005)
MTI . . . . . . . . . . . Moving Target Indication [there is also the term GMTI (Ground Moving Target Indication)]
3438
MTPE . . . . . . . . . Mission To Planet Earth [US program, see D.16, Note: As of January
1998 MTPE was renamed by NASA to Earth Science Enterprise
(ESE)]
MTSAT . . . . . . . . Multifunction Transport Satellite [Japanese geostationary multi---purpose satellite program, procured by JMA (Japan Meteorological
Agency) and JCAB (Japan Civil Aviation Bureau)]
MUOS . . . . . . . . . Mobile User Objective System (US Navy next generation communication satellite constellation of 4 spacecraft; first launch is planned for
2011)
MUSIS . . . . . . . . . Multinational Space---based Imaging System (as of 2008 a European
initiative for space cooperation for security and defense). Belgium,
France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain are the MUSIS partners.
The MUSIS programs includes a common network.
MW . . . . . . . . . . . Microwave (spectral region with wavelengths from 1mm to 1 m)
MWIR . . . . . . . . . Mid---Wavelength Infrared (about 3 --- 5 mm)
MWR . . . . . . . . . . Microwave Radiometer
N
N2 O . . . . . . . . . . .
N 2 O5 . . . . . . . . . .
N/A . . . . . . . . . . .
NABE . . . . . . . . .
NAC . . . . . . . . . . .
NACA . . . . . . . . .
NADC . . . . . . . . .
NAE . . . . . . . . . . .
NAIS . . . . . . . . . .
NAL . . . . . . . . . . .
NAO . . . . . . . . . .
NAPP . . . . . . . . . .
NARE . . . . . . . . .
NARSS . . . . . . . .
NAS . . . . . . . . . . .
NAS . . . . . . . . . . .
NASA . . . . . . . . .
NASA/ARC . . . .
NASA/DFRC . . .
NASA/GSFC . . .
NASA/HQ . . . . . .
NASA/JPL . . . . .
Nitrous oxide
Nitrogen pentoxide
Not Applicable (Not Available)
North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (campaign within JGOFS)
Narrow---Angle Camera
National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (USA, 1915---1958, predecessor organization of NASA)
Naval Air Development Center (Warminster, PA, USA)
National Aeronautical Establishment of NRC (National Research
Council, Canada)
Nationwide Automatic Identification System, a project of the USCG
(United States Coast Guard) to test the feasibility and effectiveness of
AIS message reception and reporting from space for ship tracking and
other navigational activities.
National Aerospace Laboratory, Japan (since 1955), as of Oct. 1, 2003,
NAL, NASDA, and ISAS were merged into JAXA
National Astronomy Observatory, Tokyo, Japan (also NAOJ)
National Aerial Photography Program (of USGS). NAPP was initiated
in 1987 with the objective to acquire and archive aerial photography
(using either color or black---and---white film) on a five---year cycle at a
scale of 1:40,000. NAPP is a program jointly funded by federal agencies
and states that choose to participate. Data are available through the
EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, SD, USA
North Atlantic Regional Experiment (campaign)
National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, (Cairo,
Egypt, since 1971)
National Academy of Sciences (USA)
National Airspace System (FAA, USA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (USA, since July 1958
when the US Congress created the National Aeronautics and Space
Act. The legislation was signed by President Dwight Eisenhower on
July 29, 1958. --- --- NASA officially began operations on October 1,
1958).
NASA/Ames Research Center (Moffett Field, CA, since 1939)
NASA/Dryden Flight Research Center (Edwards AFB, CA, since
1946)
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD, since 1959)
NASA/Headquarters (Washington, DC)
NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA, since Dec. 3, 1958)

NASA/JSC . . . . .
NASA/KSC . . . . .
NASA/LaRC . . . .
NASA/LeRC . . . .
NASA/GRC . . . .
NASA/MSFC . . .
NASA/SSC . . . . .
NASDA . . . . . . . .
NASDA/EOC . . .
NASDA/EOPD .
NASDA/EORC .
NASDA/EOSD . .
NASRDA . . . . . .
NATAC . . . . . . . .
NAVCEN . . . . . .
NAVSAT . . . . . . .
NAVSOC . . . . . .
NAVSTAR---GPS
NAWC . . . . . . . . .
NaSBE . . . . . . . . .
NBIOME . . . . . .
NBS . . . . . . . . . . .
NbN . . . . . . . . . . .
Nb:AlOx:Nb . . . .
Nd:YAG . . . . . . .
NCAR . . . . . . . . .
NCAR/ATD . . . .
NCAR/ACD . . . .
NCAR/RAF . . . .
NCAR/MMM . . .
NCAR/CGD . . . .
NCAR/HAO . . . .
NCC . . . . . . . . . . .
NCDC . . . . . . . . .
NCDS . . . . . . . . .
NCEP . . . . . . . . .
3439
NASA/Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX, since 1961)

NASA/Kennedy Space Center (Cap Canaveral, FL, since 1967)
NASA/Langley Research Center (Hampton, VA, since 1917)
NASA/Lewis Research Center (Cleveland, OH, since 1941). Note:
LeRC was renamed to John H. Glenn Research Center (NASA/GRC)
on March 1. 1999
NASA/John H. Glenn Research Center
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, AL, since 1960)
NASA/Stennis Space Center (Pearl River, MS). Testing of rockets and
engines (Shuttle); colocation of US Navy facilities, Naval Oceanographic Office, Naval Research Laboratory, National Data Buoy Center (NDBC, a NOAA/NWS facility), etc.
National Space Development Agency (of Japan, since 1969)
NASDA/Earth Observation Center (Tokyo, Japan, since 1978)
NASDA/Earth Observation Planning Department
NASDA/Earth Observation Research Center (Tokyo)
NASDA/Earth Observation Satellite Department
National Space Research & Development Agency, Nigeria
North Atlantic Chemistry Experiment (campaign)
Navigation Center (US Coast Guard, Alexandria, VA --- NAVCEN is
responsible for gathering system status information on GPS, DGPS,
Omega, and Loran---C)
Navy Navigation Satellite System (NAVSAT, also known as Transit, was
the first satellite navigation system of the USA, starting in 1958)
Naval Satellite Operations Center (US Navy, NAVSOC HQ is at Point
Mugu, CA, since 1962. NAVSOC facilities stretch across the USA)
Navigation System with Time and Ranging --- Global Positioning System (Precision real---time position determination system of the US AirForce, H.5)
Navy Air Warfare Center (Point Mugu, CA)
Sodium Sulfur Battery Experiment (Shuttle payload)
Northern Biosphere Observation and Modelling Experiment (campaign)
National Bureau of Standards (USA, since 1901, predecessor of NIST)
Niobium Nitride [ultra---thin films usually in connection with HEB
(Hot Electron Bolometer) technique, a mixer for quasi optical THz receiver]
Niobium:Aluminum Oxide:Niobium (tunnel junction material)
A neodymium---doped yttrium aluminum garnet crystal (solid---state)
laser
National Center for Atmospheric Research (Boulder CO, NCAR is
managed and operated by the University Corporation for Atmospheric
Research (UCAR) under the sponsorship of the National Science
Foundation (NSF), NCAR has two laboratory sites in Boulder: Mesa
Laboratory since 1966, Foothills Laboratory since 1992)
NCAR / Atmospheric Technology Division
NCAR / Atmospheric Chemistry Division
NCAR / Research Aviation Facility
NCAR / Mesoscale & Microscale Meteorology Division
NCAR / Climate and Global Dynamics Division
NCAR / High Altitude Observatory
National Climatic Center (USA)
National Climatic Data Center (of NOAA/NESDIS, Asheville, NC)
NASA Climate Data Center (at GSFC, Science data archive for atmospheric chemistry and climate (ERBE, etc.)
National Centers for Environmental Prediction (USA)
3440
NDBC . . . . . . . . . National Data Buoy Center [a NOAA/NWS facility at Stennis Space

Center (SSC), MS, since 1982; between 1970---1982 NDBO (NOAA
Data Buoy Center) was the predecessor of NDBC at SSC]
NDGPS . . . . . . . . Nationwide DGPS (Differential GPS), the USCG is implementing an
NDGPS network across the USA --- a system for continuous GPS integrity monitoring and control
NDIR . . . . . . . . . . Non---Dispersive Infrared (Spectrometer)
NDOC . . . . . . . . . National Oceanographic Data Center (USA)
NDSC . . . . . . . . . Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change
NDTP . . . . . . . . . North Dakota Thunderstorm Project (campaign)
NDVI . . . . . . . . . . Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
NEA . . . . . . . . . . . Near Earth Asteroid (detection)
NEAT . . . . . . . . . Near Earth Asteroid Tracking (NASA/JPL ground---based program to
track NEO asteroids)
NEC . . . . . . . . . . . Nippon Electric Company, Tokyo, Japan. Manufacturer of communication payloads and of Earth sensors for attitude control. NEC has
also developed a number of satellites such as: GMS series, MOS---1,
BS---3 series, MUSES---B, OICETS, etc.
NEC Toshiba . . . . Merger of NEC and Toshiba space businesses into NEC Toshiba Space
Systems Ltd., Yokohama, Japan, in Oct. 2001. Manufacturer of commercial satellites.
NEDRES . . . . . . National Environmental Data Referential Service (NOAA service)
NEIS . . . . . . . . . . National Earthquake Information Service (USGS, Denver, CO)
NEA . . . . . . . . . . . Noise Equivalent Angle
NEAR . . . . . . . . . Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous S/C (of NASA with a launch Feb. 17,
1996, the mission is managed and operated by JHU/APL). As of March
2000, NASA renamed the satellite to NEAR Shoemaker in honor of
Eugene M. Shoemaker, a geologist.
NEDR . . . . . . . . . Noise Equivalent Delta (or Differential) Radiance (system sensitivity)
NEDT . . . . . . . . . Noise Equivalent Delta (or Differential) Temperature (system sensitivity), also referred to as NEDT
NEDO . . . . . . . . . New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization --- a
Department of METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) of
the Government of Japan.
NEFD . . . . . . . . . Noise---Equivalent Flux Density (see Glossary)
NELS . . . . . . . . . . Northwest European LORAN---C System (a network of nine stations)
NEMO . . . . . . . . . Navy EarthMap Observer [US Navy (NRL) and STDC; Note: the
NEMO mission was cancelled in April 2002)
NEMS . . . . . . . . . Nano---Electromechanical System (sensor technology)
NEO . . . . . . . . . . Near Earth Object (NEOs, such as comets or asteroids, are part of the
solar system with orbits that regularly bring them close to the Earth.
NEOs may pose a thread to Earth, they are capable someday of striking
our planet)
NEP . . . . . . . . . . . Noise---Equivalent Power
NEPP . . . . . . . . . . NASA Electronic Parts and Packaging Program
NER . . . . . . . . . . . Noise Equivalent Radiance
NERC . . . . . . . . . Natural Environment Research Council (Swindon, UK)
NERSC . . . . . . . . Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre (Bergen, Norway), formerly known as NRSC, a non---profit research institute affiliated with the University of Bergen.
NESR . . . . . . . . . Noise---Equivalent Spectral Radiance (see Glossary)
NESDIS . . . . . . . National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service
(NOAA centers at Suitland, MD, and Boulder, CO)
NESS . . . . . . . . . . Near Earth Space Surveillance (a proposed microsatellite mission of
CSA, Canada)
NESZ . . . . . . . . . . Noise Equivalent Sigma Zero (a measure of the sensitivity of the system
to areas of low radar backscatter)
3441
NewDISS . . . . . . . NewDISS is NASAs next generation data (over 6---10 years), information and services system for Earth science.
NEWS . . . . . . . . . NOAA Earth Watch Service (information system)
NEXRAD . . . . . . Next---Generation Weather Radar (a US ground---based system with
the name of WSR---88D (Weather Surveillance Radar---1988 Doppler)
NEXT . . . . . . . . . NASAs Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT is a gridded ion propulsion system, it is a trottle---able system in the class of 0.6---7 kW)
NextView . . . . . . . A program and initiative of NGA (National Geospatial---Intelligence
Agency), Washington DC, designed to give US commercial imaging
satellite operators the financing to build their satellites for high---resolution imagery.
NFIRE . . . . . . . . . Near---Field Infrared Experiment (a LEO mission of the US DoD
launched in 2007). The objective is to provide multispectral imagery of
potential target types.
NFOW . . . . . . . . . Narrow Field of View (sensor)
NGA . . . . . . . . . . National Geospatial---Intelligence Agency, USA; NGA is providing
mapping and related services for the US military and intelligence communities. Note: As of Nov. 2003, NIMA (National Intelligence Mapping Agency) changed its name to NGA.
NGAS . . . . . . . . . Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, El Segundo, CA (as of Jan.
2009)
NGDC . . . . . . . . . National Geophysical Data Center (NOAA facility at Boulder, CO,
since 1965)
NGSI . . . . . . . . . . Next Generation Space Internet
NGST . . . . . . . . . Next Generation Space Telescope [NASA satellite (an infrared observatory positioned at L2) with a planned launch in 2014 to replace HST
(Hubble Space Telescope)]. The NGST design employs a collapsible
mirror of 6 m in diameter when deployed (deployable lightweight optics
technology is required). The orbital location will be at L2. The objective
is to explore the early years of the universe in the infrared region. The
NGST program started in 1995 (joint project of NASA, ESA and CSA).
ESA is providing the launch on Ariane---5 and the Near---Infrared
Spectrograph. JWSTs primary instrument, the Near Infrared Camera
(NIC), is NASAs responsibility.
NGST . . . . . . . . . Northrop Grumman Space Technologies (formerly TRW Space &
Electronics; Northrop Grumman acquired TRW in Dec. 2002).
Note: In Jan. 2009 NG reorganized. The former NGIS (Northrop
Grumman Integrated Systems) and NGST were combined into NGAS
(Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems)
NH3 . . . . . . . . . . . Ammonia
NH4 . . . . . . . . . . . Ammonium (ammonia radical)
NIC . . . . . . . . . . . National Ice Center [USA, a joint agency formed by the US Navy,
NOAA, and the USCG (US Coast Guard)]
NiCd . . . . . . . . . . Nickel Cadmium (battery)
NiH2 . . . . . . . . . . Nickel Hydrogen (battery)
NiMH . . . . . . . . . Nickel Metal Hydride (battery)
NIERSC . . . . . . . Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing Center
(since 1992, a Scientific Foundation and a non---profit project---oriented institute located in St. Petersburg, Russia). The initial joint---venture had four co---founders: Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (Bergen, Norway), Research Centre for Ecological Safety--RAS (St.Petersburg, Russia), Max Planck Society (Munich, Germany),
and Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (Ann Arbor, USA),
now Altarum Institute with a contribution of the Joint Research Centre
of the European Commission (Ispra, Italy).
NMR . . . . . . . . . . Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (spectroscopy)
NNMRS . . . . . . . National Natural Resources Management System [an agency of DOS
(Department of Space), India]
3442
NO . . . . . . . . . . . .
NO2 . . . . . . . . . . .
NO3 . . . . . . . . . . .
NOx (NOx) . . . . .
NOy (NOy) . . . . .
NOHRSC . . . . . .
NIAC . . . . . . . . . .
NICMOS . . . . . . .
NICT . . . . . . . . . .
NIES . . . . . . . . . .
NIH---R . . . . . . . .
NIIEM . . . . . . . . .
NIIR . . . . . . . . . .
NILU . . . . . . . . . .
NIMA . . . . . . . . .
Ni---MH . . . . . . . .
NIMBUS . . . . . . .
NIMS . . . . . . . . . .
NIPR . . . . . . . . . .
NIR . . . . . . . . . . .
NIS . . . . . . . . . . . .
NIST . . . . . . . . . .
NIVR . . . . . . . . . .
NKAU . . . . . . . . .
NLO . . . . . . . . . . .
NLOS . . . . . . . . .
NLR . . . . . . . . . . .

Nitric oxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrate radical
Nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2, NO3)
Total active nitrogen
National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (of NOAA/
NWS at Chanhassen, MN, USA)
NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts. NIAC is run by USRA for
NASA (created in 1998 to solicit revolutionary concepts from people
and organizations outside the agency that could advance NASAs missions)
Near---Infrared Camera and Multi---Object Spectrometer (Hubble
sensor installed in early 1997, built by Ball Aerospace)
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology,
Tokyo (since 2004). Note: NICT is a merger of CRL (Communication
Research Laboratory and the Telecommunications Advancement Organization of Japan.
National Institute of Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
National Institute of Health (Shuttle experiment)
Scientific and Research Institute of Electromechanics, Istra (Moscow
Region), Russia; NIIEM was founded in 1960 by VNIIEM. In 1992 the
institute NIIEM became an independent entity. Development of LEO
meteorological satellites.
State Radio Scientific Research Institute, Moscow; developer/builder
of communication equipment in the widest sense, participation in programs: Orbita, Ekran, Ekran---M, Moskva, Gorizont, Gals, Express, Interkosmos, Intersputnik, Apollo---Soyuz, Vega, Phobos, etc.
Norwegian Institute for Air Research (Lillestrom, Norway)
National Imagery and Mapping Agency (Arlington, VA, a US government agency established in Oct. 1996). NIMA incorporates the Defence Mapping Agency (DMA), the Central Imagery Office, and the
Defense Dissemination Office as well as CIAs Photographic Interpretation Center. NIMA is also the principal buyer of commercial imagery for all DoD organizations. Note: In Nov. 2003, NIMA was renamed to NGA (National Geospatial---Intelligence Agency)
Nickel---Metal Hydride cell (a type of secondary electrochemical cell
similar to a nickel hydrogen cell --- used in spacecraft batteries)
NASA EO missions series, M.29
Navy Ionospheric Monitoring System (H.7)
Nippon Institute for Polar Research, Japan
Near Infrared (spectrum, from 0.75 to about 1.3 mm)
NEXRAD---In---Space (a NASA mission concept to provide a geostationary satellite Doppler radar observations)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA, an agency of
DOC, formerly National Bureau of Standards, since 1901)
Nederlands Instituut voor Vliegtuigontwikkeling en Ruimtevaart
(Netherlands Institute for Air and Space Development, Delft, The
Netherlands, since 1946)
National Space Agency of Ukraine (since 1992), also referred to as
NSAU
Nonlinear Optics (NLO is widely used in solid---state laser technology)
Non---Line---of---Sight (refers to data or voice access service technology
of spaceborne communications in NLOS operating environments such
as within buildings, aircraft, ships, dense metropolitan areas, and remote/underground locations)
Nationaal Lucht--- en Ruimtevaartlaboratorium (National Aerospace
Laboratory, Amsterdam and Noordoostpolder, the Netherlands) since
NLSI . . . . . . . . . .
NMC . . . . . . . . . .
NMHC . . . . . . . . .
NMOS . . . . . . . . .
NMP . . . . . . . . . .
NNSA . . . . . . . . .
NNSS . . . . . . . . . .
NOAA . . . . . . . . .
NOAA/AL . . . . . .
NOAA/AOML . .
NOAA/ARL . . . .
NOAA/AOC . . . .
NOAA/ATDD . .
NOAA/CDC . . . .
NOAA/CMDL . .
NOAA/ERL . . . .
NOAA/ETL . . . .
NOAA/FSL . . . . .
NOAA/GFDL . . .
NOAA/GLERL .
NOAA/NSSL . . .
NOAA---NESDIS
3443
1961. NLR is of NLL (Nationaal Luchtvaart Laboratorium) heritage

which was founded in 1937. As the central institute in the Netherlands
for aerospace research, NLR owns and operates several dedicated research facilities.
NASA Lunar Science Institute (as of April 2008, based at the NASA
AMES Research Center, Moffett Field, CA)
National Meteorological Center (USA)
Non---methane hydrocarbons
N---channel MOS (Metal---Oxide Semiconductor)
New Millennium Program (NASA/JPL). NASA created NMP in 1994
to flight validate new spacecraft technologies. Deep Space 1 (launch
Oct. 24, 1998) was the first mission in NMP. The EO---1 (Earth Observing---1, launch Nov. 21, 2000) mission is also part of NMP. Trailblazer/ST5 (Space Technology 5) is a three microsatellite formation flying
mission with a planned launch in 2004.
National Nuclear Security Agency [established in 2000, a semi--autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)]
Navy Navigation Satellite System (USA, also known as the Transit system, was the worlds first satellite navigation system, H.7)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA is an
agency of the US Department of Commerce, established in 1970 (predecessor ESSA), it has the following major divisions: NOS (National
Ocean Service), NWS (National Weather Service), NMFS (National
Marine Fisheries Service), NESDIS (National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service), OOAR (Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research), and ONCO (Office of NOAA Corps Operations).
NOAA/Aeronomy Laboratory (Boulder CO)
NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, FL. The HRD (Hurricane Research Division) is part of AOML.
NOAA/Air Resources Laboratory, Silver Spring, MD. Note: ARL consists of the HQ---Division in Silver Spring, MD, the ATTD in Oak Ridge
TN, the ASMD (Atmospheric Sciences Modeling Division) in Research Triangle Park, NC, the FRD (Field Research Division) in Idaho
Falls, ID, and the SRRB (Solar Radiation Research Branch) in Boulder, CO.
NOAA/Aircraft Operations Center, MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL. Note:
AOC was created in 1983 [initially known as OAO (Office of Aircraft
Operations)] to manage NOAA aircraft, personnel, budget and facilities in support of NOAA aircraft programs. AOC is under ONCO.
NOAA/Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, Oak Ridge,
TN
NOAA/Climate Diagnostics Center (Boulder, CO)
NOAA/ Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, Boulder CO.
NOAA/Environmental Research Laboratories, headquartered in Silver Spring, MD. (under OOAR). All NOAA laboratories are run
through OOAR/ERL, these are: AL, AOML, ARL, CDML, ETL, FSL,
GFDL, GLERL, NSSL, PMEL, SEL, CDC, and the Joint Institutes.
NOAA/ Environmental Technology Laboratory, Boulder, CO, (formerly WPL = Wave Propagation Laboratory)
NOAA/Forecast Systems Laboratory (Boulder, CO)
NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ.
NOAA/Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor,
MI.
NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, OK.
NOAA/National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service, Suitland, MD. --- NESDIS functions are: Satellite Operations, Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, Research and Applications,
3444
NOAA/NCDC . .
NOAA/NDBC . .
NOAA/NGDC . .
NOAA/NGS . . . .
NOAA/NODC . .
NOAA/NOS . . . .
NOAA/NSIDC . .
NOAA/NWS . . . .
NOAA/OAO . . . .
NOAA/OOAR . .
NOAA/PMEL . . .
NOAA/SEC . . . .
NOAA/SEL . . . . .
NOAO . . . . . . . . .
NODS . . . . . . . . .
NOPEX . . . . . . . .
NOPP . . . . . . . . .
NORAD . . . . . . .
NORCSEX . . . . .
NORDA . . . . . . .
NORSEX . . . . . .
Northrop . . . . . . .
NOSC . . . . . . . . .
NOSL . . . . . . . . .
NOSS . . . . . . . . . .

Systems Development, National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Oceanic Data Center (NODC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC).
NOAA---NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center, Asheville, NC.
NOAA---National Data Buoy Center (a NOAA/NWS facility at Stennis
Space Center, MS)
NOAA---NESDIS/National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, CO
NOAA---National Geodetic Survey
NOAA---NESDIS/National Oceanographic Data Center (Silver
Spring MD)
NOAA/National Ocean Service --- NOS functions are: coast and geodetic survey, ocean resources conservation and assessment, ocean and
coastal resources management, ocean and earth sciences.
NOAA/National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder, CO (NSIDC is
located at the University of Colorado at Boulder)
NOAA/National Weather Service --- NWS functions are: meteorology,
hydrology, systems operations, systems development, national meteorological center, national data buoy center
NOAA/Office of Aircraft Operations, Miami, FL (old designation)
NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research --- OOAR functions: oceanic research program, environmental research laboratories.
NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (Seattle, WA, since
1973)
NOAA/Space Environment Center (Boulder, CO)
NOAA/Space Environment Laboratory (Boulder, CO), Note: NOAA/
SEL changed its name to NOAA/SEC in 1997
National Optical Astronomy Observatory (the US national observatory for nighttime optical/infrared astronomy funded by the National
Science Foundation)
NASA Ocean Data System (located at JPL; Measurements in the archive are related to altimetry, scatterometry, and microwave radiometry. NODS archives and distributes data products for TOPEX/Poseidon)
Northern---Hemisphere Climate Processes Land---surface Experiment
(campaign)
National Oceanographic Partnership Program (USA, since 1997,
NOPP has a mandate from Congress). The objective is to foster cooperation and partnerships among federal agencies, academia, industry
and other members of the oceanographic scientific community.
North American Aerospace Defense Command (since 1958), located
at Patterson Air Force Base in CO, USA. NORAD is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning,
air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries.
Norwegian Continental Shelf Experiment (campaign)
Northern Oceans Research and Development Activities (Canada)
Norwegian Remote Sensing Experiment (campaign)
Northrop Grumman Corporation with HQ in Los Angeles, CA. A defense and electronics company [DoD radar (SAR) systems, imaging
and information technology, OLS (Operational Linescan System) instrument of DMSP series, payload of SBIRS (Space---Based Infrared
System) program of DoD, etc.]. Northrop Grumman purchased TRW
in Dec. 2002.
Naval Ocean Systems Center (San Diego, CA)
Night/Day Optical Survey of Lightning (Shuttle experiment)
Naval Ocean Surveillance Satellite, also referred to as Whitecloud,
White Cloud or Classic Wizzard (a US Navy S/C series, sponsored
3445
by NRO, and launched from VAFB, CA on Atlas vehicles). 5910) NOSS

is a wide area ocean surveillance system used to determine the location
of radio and radar transmissions, using triangulation (NRO uses the
NOSS satellites to keep tabs on ships around the globe). --- Each NOSS
launch placed a cluster of one primary satellite and three smaller sub--satellites (that trail along at distances of several hundred m apart in a
triangle formation) into low polar orbit. This satellite array can determine the location of radio and radars transmitters, using triangulation,
and the identity of naval units, by analysis of the operating frequencies
and transmission patterns. NOSS used the ELINT technique called
TDOA (time difference of arrival), rather than true interferometry.
NOSS---1 launch April 30, 1976 (1100 km altitude, inclination of
63.5)5911), NOSS---2 launch Dec. 8, 1977, NOSS---3 launch March 3,
1980, NOSS---4 launch Feb .9, 1983, NOSS---8 launch May 15, 1987
(also referred to as USA---22), NOSS---9 launch Sept. 5, 1988 (also
known as USA---32). --- Second generation NOSS satellites were
launched starting in 1990. There are three groups of the 2nd generation
NOSS satellites each having three satellites in close proximity to one
another. The first NOSS---2---1 triplet was launched on June 8, 1990 on
a Titan---IV vehicle from Cape Canaveral; the second NOSS---2---2 triplet was launched on Nov. 8, 1991; and the third triplet of NOSS---2---3
was launched May 12, 1996 from VAFB. The latest NOSS launch occurred Dec. 2, 2003 from VAFB.
NOWES . . . . . . . Northern Wetlands Study (campaign)
NOx . . . . . . . . . . . Nitrogen oxides
NOy . . . . . . . . . . . Total reactive nitrogen
NPL . . . . . . . . . . . National Physical Laboratory (Teddington, Middlesex, UK; NPL is an
agency of the Department of Trade and Industry)
NPO . . . . . . . . . . . Naulshno Proizwodstwennoje Objedijenie (Scientific/Research Production Association, Russia)
NPO AP . . . . . . . NPO for Automation and Instrument Engineering, Moscow; since
1947; participation in the following programs: Venera, Mars, Luna,
Soyuz, Proton, Zenit, Energia---Buran; builder of on---board guidance
and navigation systems
NPO Geofizika . . Moscow; since 1908, a major enterprise for the development of automatic and visual opto---electronic instruments; participation in national
programs: Vostok, Salyut, Soyuz, MIR, Energia---Buran, etc.
NPO Mashinostroyenia
Russian company, Reutov, Moscow Region, builder/integrator of S/C (ALMAZ series), participation in programs: Kosmos, Proton, Polyot, Salyut, etc. --- NPO Mashinostroyenia came into existence
in 1944 as OKB---51 (Design Bureau of Factory 51). In 1955, Chelomeys (Vladimir N. Chelomey was general director and chief designer)
group was re---established as a separate design bureau, designated
OKB---52. In 1966 the OKB---52 was renamed to TsKBM (Central Design Bureau for Machine Building) of the Ministry of General Machine---Building. In 1983 TsKBM took its current name, NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
NPO Planeta . . . . Scientific and Research Center on Space Hydrometeorology (Moscow,
since 1974), operators of satellites (Meteor, Okean, Resurs, GOMS series) along with corresponding ground segments, providers of services
to the user community in the areas of meteorology/climate, oceanography, Earth resources, and ecological monitoring. From an organiza_____________________
5910) A. Andronov, The US Navys White Cloud Spaceborne ELINT System, in Zarubezhnoye Voyennoye Obrozreniye (Foreign Military Review), ISSN 0134---921X, No. 7, 1993, pp. 57---60, translated by Allen Thomson
5911) Note: The orbital inclination of 63.5 (identical with Molniya---type orbits) of the NOSS satellite series as well as
the practice of triple launches suggest strongly that highly elliptical Molniya orbits are being used, providing
high---latitude continuous coverage of the northern hemisphere. In this configuration, at least 3 S/C are needed
to provide continuous coverage.
3446
NPO PM . . . . . . .
NPO Vega . . . . . .
NPO Yuzhnoye . .
NPOESS . . . . . . .
NPOP . . . . . . . . .
NPP . . . . . . . . . . .
NPS . . . . . . . . . . .
NRAM . . . . . . . . .
NRAO . . . . . . . . .
NRC . . . . . . . . . . .
NRC (NRCAN) .
NRCS . . . . . . . . . .
NRCT . . . . . . . . .
NREL . . . . . . . . .
NRL . . . . . . . . . . .
NRL/NCST . . . . .
NRL/RSD . . . . . .
NRLM . . . . . . . . .

tional point of view, NPO Planeta is an agency positioned under ROSHYDROMET, the Committee for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
Research and Production Association of Applied Mechanics (Prikladnoi Mekaniki), Krasnoyarsk (a closed city until 1991) Siberia. NPO PM
was founded in 1959, since 1977 it is builder/integrator of communication satellites (Gorizont, Express, Molniya---1, ---2, ---3, Raduga---1, Ekran, Ekran---M, Luch, Radio, etc.), navigation satellites (GLONASS,
Tsikada), and geodetic satellites (GEO---IK, Etalon); advanced programs (Express---M, Gonets, Arkos, Mayak, Gals)
Note: As of March 2008, NPO---PM was reorganized and renamed to:
JSC---ISS (Joint---Stock Company --- Information Satellite Systems),
Zheleznogorsk, Russia. JSC---ISS is also referred to as: JSC Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev Company. This is in honor of M. F.
Reshetnev, the founder of the enterprise. 5912)
--- JSC Research&Production Enterprise Geofizika---Cosmos,Moscow
--- JSC Research&Production Enterprise Kvant, Moscow
--- JSC Research&Production Enterprise of Space Instruments,
Rostov---on---Don
--- JSC Siberian Devices and Systems, Omsk
--- JSC Testing Technical Center --- NPO PM, Zheleznogorsk
--- JSC NPO PM --- Small Design Bureau, Zheleznogorsk
--- JSC NPO PM --- Razvitie, Zheleznogorsk
--- JSC Sibpromprojekt, Zheleznogorsk
Russian space/defense industry consortium, Moscow, designers and
builders of SAR instruments, etc., operators of airborne instruments
Design Office Yuzhnoye, in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine (builder of
OKEAN S/C series, Dnepr launch vehicle, etc.)
National Polar---orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
(merged POES and DMSP series, with launches projected for 2008 and
beyond)
NASA Polar Platform
NPOESS Preparatary Project
Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, CA)
Nano---RAM (Nanovolatile Random Access Memory), a proprietary
computer memory technology from the company Nantero. NRAM is
based on the mechanical position of carbon nanotubes deposited on a
chip---like substrate.
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (USA)
National Research Council (Washington, DC, USA)
Natural Resources Canada (Ottawa, Canada)
Normalized Radar Cross---Section (an aspect of ocean surface reflectivity, also referred to as s)
National Research Council of Thailand
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, CO, of DOE)
Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, DC). NRL is the US Navys
corporate research and development laboratory, created in 1923 with
over 4000 personnel (among them 1500 scientists) in the 1990s. NRL
maintains 15 research sites throughout the US. The three main NRL
sites are at: Washington DC, NRL/SSC (Stennis Space Center in Bay St.
Louis, MS), and NRL/MRY (Monterey, CA).
NRL/Naval Center for Space Technology
NRL/Remote Sensing Division
National Research Laboratory of Meteorology (Japan)
_____________________
5912) http://www.iss---reshetnev.com/images/File/magazin/2008/m4---screen_en.pdf
3447
NRO . . . . . . . . . . National Reconnaissance Office (agency of DoD, Chantilly, VA,

USA). NRO sponsors and operates US reconnaissance S/C (Corona
series, etc.). The primary user of the imagery is NIMA.
NROSS . . . . . . . . Navy Remote Ocean Sensing System (satellite)
NRSA . . . . . . . . . National Remote Sensing Agency (since 1975, Balanagar, Hyderabad,
India), NRSA is part of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)
NRSC . . . . . . . . . National Remote Sensing Centre (UK, this agency was privatized in
1989, commercial sale of remote sensing data, operator of UK---PAF
for ESA)
NRSCC . . . . . . . . National Remote Sensing Center of China (Beijing). Note, NRSCC is
not a research organization. Rather, it is the administration under the
Ministry of Science and Technology of China.
NRZ . . . . . . . . . . . Non---Return to Zero (communication signal parameter)
NRZ---I . . . . . . . . Non---Return to Zero---Inverted
NSBF . . . . . . . . . . National Scientific Balloon Facility (NASA---owned facility in Fort
Sumner, NM)
NSC . . . . . . . . . . . Norwegian Space Centre (Oslo, Norway)
NSERC . . . . . . . . Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Canada)
NSF . . . . . . . . . . . National Science Foundation (Arlington, VA, USA; since 1950; NSF is
an independent govenment agency responsible for promoting science
and engineering). About 20,000 programs per year are supported by
NSF.
NSI . . . . . . . . . . . . NASA Science Internet --- an international dual protocol (TCP/IP and
DECnet) network (successor to SPAN)
NSIDC . . . . . . . . . National Snow and Ice Data Center (Boulder, CO, NOAA facility at
University of Colorado, established in 1982). NSIDC is co---located
with WDC---A (World Data Center A for Glaciology). NSIDC is also a
DAAC site of the EOS Program. NSIDC has extensive holdings of cryospheric and polar ocean surface---flux data and routinely produces sea
ice maps from SSM/I sensor.
NSMC . . . . . . . . . National Satellite Meteorological Center [since 1971, NSMC is the research and operational facility of CMA (China Meteorological Administration)]. NSMC has ground stations in Beijing, Guangzhou, and
Urumqi.
NSO . . . . . . . . . . . Netherlands Space Office (since October 2008). NSO was established
by the Dutch government in order to develop the Netherlands space
program and to bring that program to action.
NSPO . . . . . . . . . . National Space Organization of Taiwan --- official name as of March
2005. The former meaning of NSPO was: National Space Program Office (Hsin---Chu City, Taiwan). NSPO is Taiwans space agency
(founded in Oct. 1991).
NSR . . . . . . . . . . . Northern Sky Research. NSR is an international market research and
consulting firm specializing in satellite and wireless technology and applications.
NSSDC . . . . . . . . National Space Science Data Center (at NASA/GSFC)
NSSK . . . . . . . . . . North---South Stationkeeping
NSSL . . . . . . . . . . National Severe Storms Laboratory (Norman, OK, USA)
NSSO . . . . . . . . . . National Security Space Office (Washington, DC)
NSTAR . . . . . . . . NASA Solar Electric Power (SEP) Technology Application Readiness
NSW . . . . . . . . . . New South Wales (Australia)
NTIS . . . . . . . . . . National Technical Information Service (USA)
NTS . . . . . . . . . . . Navigation Technology Satellite (DoD/NRL program of the 1970s also
referred to as Timation which predated the GPS program)
NTSC . . . . . . . . . . National Television Standards Committee (US TV display standard
which is also adopted by a number of other countries. This is a 525---line
video signal with a 3.58 MHz chroma subcarrier at 60 Hz)
NTsOMZ . . . . . . . Research Center for Operational Earth Monitoring (Moscow, Russia)
3448
NTT . . . . . . . . . . .
NTU . . . . . . . . . . .
NWC . . . . . . . . . .
NWP . . . . . . . . . .
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (Japan)

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
National Weather Center
Numerical Weather Prediction (this involves sophisticated computer
models and huge volumes of real---time data to arrive finally at weather
forecasting)
NWS . . . . . . . . . . National Weather Service (USA)
O
O2 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
O3 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ox (Ox) . . . . . . . .
OACT . . . . . . . . .
OAI . . . . . . . . . . .
OARE . . . . . . . . .
OACES . . . . . . . .
OAS . . . . . . . . . . .
OASIS . . . . . . . . .
OASIS---1 . . . . . .
OASIS . . . . . . . . .
OAST . . . . . . . . . .
OBC . . . . . . . . . . .
OBS . . . . . . . . . . .
OCA . . . . . . . . . .
OCE . . . . . . . . . . .
OCEAN . . . . . . .
OClO . . . . . . . . . .
OCO . . . . . . . . . .
OCOS . . . . . . . . .
OCT . . . . . . . . . . .
OCTW . . . . . . . . .
OCXO . . . . . . . . .
ODERACS . . . . .
ODIN . . . . . . . . .
QE . . . . . . . . . . . .
OECD . . . . . . . . .
OEDIPUS . . . . . .
Molecular oxygen
Ozone
Odd oxygen (O+O3)
Office of Advanced Concepts and Technology (NASA, formerly
OAST)
Ohio Aerospace Institute, Cleveland, OH [consortium of nine Ohio
universities, NASA/GRC (Lewis Field in Cleveland), AFRL (Dayton),
and private industry]
Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (Shuttle payload)
Ocean---Atmosphere Carbon Exchange Study (campaign)
Optical Aperture Synthesis. The OAS technique allows to reconstitute
a telescope aperture of large surface by cophasing several individual
telescopes of smaller size. --- OAS is a candidate concept which may be
applied to extended source imagery from GEO. Such a configuration
may eventually be applied from a geostationary orbit to provide high--resolution imagery (< 10 m) in particular target areas (disaster management support). Studies show that OAS implementations may be
feasible and affordable from ~ 2020 onwards.
Orbital Aggregation & Space Infrastructure (NASA launch concept)
Orbiter Autonomous Supporting Instrumentation System (Shuttle
payload)
On---Line Data Access and Service Information System (Catalog system at NOAA---NCDC)
Office of Application and Space Technology (NASA, Shuttle payloads
are also designated by this name --- OAST---1, OAST---2, etc.)
On---Board Computer
Observatoire Paris---Mendon (France)
Observatoire de la Cte dAzur (Nice, France)
Ocean Color Experiment (Shuttle payload)
Ocean Color Environment Archive Network (ESA Program)
(ClO2) Chlorine dioxide
Orbiting Carbon Observatory
Ocean Climate Observing Study (campaign)
OmniCorder Technologies, Inc. of Stony Brook, NY (USA), since 1997,
manufacturer of the BioScanIR System (a medical device providing a
painless, non---contact, radiation---free method of measuring blood
flow in tissues and organs).
Optical Communications Through Windows (Shuttle experiment)
Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator
Orbital Debris Radar Calibration System (Shuttle payload)
Proposed Swedish astronomy and aeronomy mission (A.23, in Norse
mythology Odin (also called Woden or Wotan) is one of the principal
gods)
Quantum Efficiency
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
Observations of Electric---field Distributions in the Ionosphere Plasma
--- a Unique Strategy (Canadian sounding rocket missions from Andoya, Norway and Poker Flat, Alaska)
3449
OEIC . . . . . . . . . . Optoelectronic Integrated Circuit (a monolithic chip technology containing light sources, photodetectors, modulators, and VLSI---density
electronic circuitry)
OES . . . . . . . . . . . Office of Earth Science (NASA/HQ, since 1998, formerly Office of
Mission to Planet Earth (OMTPE))
OEX . . . . . . . . . . Orbiter Experiments (Shuttle)
OFDM . . . . . . . . . Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
OGLOW . . . . . . . Sun Orbiter Glow (Shuttle experiment)
OH . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydroxyl radical
OHB---System . . . Orbital--- und Hydrotechnologie Bremen System GmbH (since 1958,
originally known as: Otto Hydraulik Bremen). A mid---sized aerospace
and telecommunication company, located in Bremen, Germany --- with
a number of company participants and subsidiaries in Germany and Italy. OHB---System is part of the Fuchs Gruppe (since 1981). Satellites
built by the Fuchs Gruppe are: BremSat, SAFIR---1, ---2, ABRIXAS,
DIAMANT, MITA. Note: The company Carlo Gavazzi Space (CGS)
S.p.A, Milan, Italy was taken over by the Fuchs Gruppe in 1996; OHB--Teledata was founded in 1996. LUXspace of Luxembourg, has been
formed in 2004 by OHB Technology AG as part of its European Company Network Strategy. In June 2007, OHB Technology AG acquired
the company Kayser---Threde GmbH of Munich, Germany.
OICETS . . . . . . . Optical Interorbit Communications and Engineering Test Satellite (of
NASDA, Japan)
OIP . . . . . . . . . . . Optronic Instruments & Products [OIP is trading under the trade name
Delft Sensor Systems (DSS)], located in Oudenaarde, Belgium. Note:
As of July 2003, OIP was purchased by Elbit Systems Ltd. of Haifa, Israel.
OISL . . . . . . . . . . Optical Inter---Satellite Communication Link
OKEAN . . . . . . . Ukrainian/Russian satellite series, D.37
OLED . . . . . . . . . Organic Light Emitting Diode (a LED made of semiconducting organic polymers). The OLED technology is being introduced into all types
of displays (TV, camera, computer displays, etc.)
OMNI . . . . . . . . . Operating Missions as Nodes on the Internet. OMNI is the first end--to---end demonstration of operating NASA missions as nodes on IP.
OMUX . . . . . . . . Optical Multiplexer
ONERA . . . . . . . Office National dEtudes et de Recherches Arospatiales --- The
French Aeronautics and Space Research Center (Chatillon, Meudon,
Palaiseau, Avrieux, Mauzac, Toulouse, Lille, France) ONERA reports
to the French Ministry of Defense. CERT (Centre dEtudes et de Recherches de Toulouse) is a center of ONERA. It carries out research for
and with the aeronautics, space and defense industries.
ONR . . . . . . . . . . Office of Naval Research (HQ in Arlington, VA). ONR coordinates the
science and technology programs of the US Navy and Marine Corps.
NRL is a technical department of ONR.
OOA . . . . . . . . . . On---Orbit Assembly
OOS . . . . . . . . . . . On---Orbit Servicing
OPAC . . . . . . . . . . Occultations for Probing Atmosphere and Climate (Workshop series)
OPO . . . . . . . . . . . Optical Parametric Oscillator (laser type)
O---QPN . . . . . . . Offset Quadriphase Pseudo---Noise
OQPSK . . . . . . . . Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
ORS . . . . . . . . . . . Orbital Recovery System, called ConeXpress, of Orbital Recovery Corporation. ConeXpress ORS will be operated by Orbital Recovery Ltd.,
UK
ORS . . . . . . . . . . . Operationally Responsive Space (a DoD vision). The ORS Office was
set up in May 2007.
ORFEUS . . . . . . Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph (German/US Shuttle payload)
3450
OREGIN . . . . . . . Organization of European GNSS Equipment and Services Industry (an

industry association to support development of Galileo equipment and
services)
ORI . . . . . . . . . . . Ocean Research Institute (University of Tokyo, Japan)
ORNL . . . . . . . . . ORNL (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Oak Ridge, TN (of DOE)
rsted . . . . . . . . . Danish research satellite, E.18
ORSTOM . . . . . . Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre---Mer (Paris,
Montpellier, Orleans, etc., France) also: LInstitut francais de recherche scientifque pour le dveloppement en coopration (French
scientific research institute for development in cooperation). In 1998
OSTROM was renamed to IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Dveloppement)
OSA . . . . . . . . . . . Optical Society of America
OSDPD . . . . . . . . Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (of NOAA)
OSC . . . . . . . . . . . Orbital Sciences Corporation (Dulles, VA, USA, since April 1982,
builder of small satellites and instruments, owner/operator of commercial launch services for small payloads, Pegasus vehicle, etc.). ORBCOMM, ORBIMAGE and Magellan (GPS receivers) are affiliates of
OSC, so are CTA Space Systems (McLean, VA) and MacDonald Dettwiler Associates Ltd (MDA, Vancouver, BC).
In the spring of 2010, OSC acquired GDAIS (General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems) of Scottsdale/Gilbert, AZ GDAIS built
such spacecraft as: Fermi/GLAST astronomy satellite for NASA, the
C/NOFS space weather satellite for the Air Force, the GeoEye---1 commercial imaging satellite for GeoEye, Inc., and the NFIRE experimental satellite for MDA (Missile Defense Agency).
OSCAR . . . . . . . . Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio (initially a satellite series of
a USA---based group of amateur radio enthusiasts; OSCAR I, the first
amateur satellite, was launched Dec. 12. 1961 by a Thor Agena B
launcher (piggyback to Discover 36 of USAF) from VAFB, CA (orbit of
372 km x 211 km, inclination of 81.2, period of 91.8 min). OSCAR I was
the first of the phase I series. In 1969 AMSAT was founded to give amateur radio satellites an international base. Note: Occasionally, there is
also the spelling of OSKAR.
OSI . . . . . . . . . . . . Open System Interconnect (a standard for open communication)
OSS . . . . . . . . . . . NASAs Office of Space Science (Shuttle payloads, etc.)
OSSS . . . . . . . . . . One Stop Satellite Solutions (Ogden, UT, since 1996, a spin---off commercial company of CAST at Weber State University). OSSS built MPA
(Multi---Payload Adapter) for JAWSAT. Within the CubeSat program,
OSSS is also a US contact/partner for the Dnepr launch vehicle of ISC
Kosmotras of Moscow.
OSTC . . . . . . . . . . Federal Office for Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Affairs of Belgium [also referred to as SSTC (Services Fdraux des Affaires Scientifiques, Techniques et Culturelles, Belgium)]
OSTA . . . . . . . . . . Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications, NASA (a designation that
was also given to the early Shuttle payloads)
OSTST . . . . . . . . . Ocean Surface Topography Science Team (an international team of altimetry missions)
OSVS . . . . . . . . . . Orbiter Space Vision System (Shuttle payload)
OTTER . . . . . . . . Oregon Transect Ecosystem Research (campaign)
OWL . . . . . . . . . . Orbiting Wide---angle Light---collectors (proposed NASA/GSFC mission of two satellites; also: a measurement technique for the detection
of ultrahigh---energy cosmic radiation)
OWL . . . . . . . . . . OverWhelmingly Large telescope of ESO (European Southern Observatory). OWL is a next---generation optical and near---infrared telescope, dubbed OWL for the eponymous birds keen night vision. With a
diameter of 100 m, OWL would combine unrivalled light gathering
3451
power with the ability to resolve details down to a milli---arc second

(marsec). The design is based on a spherical primary segmented mirror.
OWLS . . . . . . . . . Optical Wireless Links for intra---Satellite applications
OWWS . . . . . . . . Operational Windshear Warning System (NCAR)
P
PACSAT . . . . . . . A Protocol suite first developed by SSTL. PACSAT uses packet radio
techniques in the microsatellite system to transmit its data over the satellite RF link. Several layers of protocol are implemented in the PACSAT suite, at the lower level HDLC (High---Level Data Link Control)
and X.25 provide the functions of packet multiplexing, error detection
and ARQ (Automatic---Repeat Request) error correction. PACSAT is
a point---to---multipoint protocol (broadcast); small ground terminals
in the satellite footprint receive/send the data. The PACSAT protocol
suite is also supporting data communications within the radio amateur
community (referred to as AX.25).
PADE . . . . . . . . . . Paquete Argentino de Experimentos (Argentine Experiments Package
on Shuttle)
PAF . . . . . . . . . . . Processing and Archiving Facility (ESA facilities for the ERS---1 mission in Europe: D---PAF at DLR/DFD, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany;
F---PAF at CERSAT, Brest, France; I---PAF at ASI Matera, Italy; UK--PAF at RAE, Farnborough, UK)
PAGES . . . . . . . . Past Global Changes (IGBP core program)
PAL . . . . . . . . . . . Phase Alternation Line (German TV display standard). PAL has 625
scan lines per frame at 50 Hz.
PALACE . . . . . . . Profiling ALACE (Autonomous Lagrangian Circulation Explorer) of
NOAA/AOML. PALACE is a later version of ALACE, first deployed in
1997. PALACE buoys have the added capability of data storage. They
cary a sensor package providing measurements of various parameters
such as conductivity and temperature. In the late 1990s, hundreds of
PALACE floats in the Atlantic Ocean are reporting to data collection
satellites on subsurface currents as well as profiles of salinity and temperature.
PALE . . . . . . . . . . Paleoclimates for Arctic Lakes and Estuaries (campaign)
PAM . . . . . . . . . . . Portable Automated Mesonet (weather stations of NCAR)
PAMS . . . . . . . . . . Passive Aerodynamically---Stabilized Magnetically---Damped Satellite
(Shuttle payload)
PAN . . . . . . . . . . . Panchromatic (data)
PAN . . . . . . . . . . . Peroxyacetylnitrate
PANASH . . . . . . . Paleoclimates of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (IGBP/
PAGES program under focus 1)
PANSAT . . . . . . . Petite Amateur Naval Satellite (S/C of Naval Postgraduate School,
Monterey, CA, ejected from Shuttle)
PARASOL . . . . . . Polarization and Anisotropy of Reflectances for Atmospheric Science
coupled with Observations from a Lidar, a French mission, M.28.3
PARE . . . . . . . . . . Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (Shuttle experiment)
PARLIQ . . . . . . . Phase Partitioning in Liquids (Shuttle experiment)
PAS . . . . . . . . . . . PanAmSat Corporation of Greenwich, CT (a daughter of Hughes Electronics Corporation of Los Angeles, CA. PanAmSat is the world leader
of commercial satellite---based communications services, launch of first
satellite (Galaxy---1) in 1983, launch of PAS---1 in 1988)
PASC . . . . . . . . . . Polar Atmospheric and Snow Chemistry (IGBP/IGAC project)
PASDE . . . . . . . . Photogrammetric Appendage Structural Dynamics Experiment
(Shuttle)
PBL . . . . . . . . . . . Planetary Boundary Layer
PBO . . . . . . . . . . . Plate Boundary Observatory (a distributed network of GPS stations
and strainmeters in the framework of the US EarthScope program
3452
PbS . . . . . . . . . . . .
PbSi . . . . . . . . . . .
PC . . . . . . . . . . . .
PCB . . . . . . . . . . .
PCG . . . . . . . . . . .
PCG/STES . . . . .
PCI . . . . . . . . . . . .
PCM . . . . . . . . . .
PD . . . . . . . . . . . .
PDA . . . . . . . . . . .
PDF . . . . . . . . . . .
PDO . . . . . . . . . . .
PDOP . . . . . . . . .
PDP . . . . . . . . . . .
PDR . . . . . . . . . . .
PE&RS . . . . . . . .
PEACAMPOT . .
PEM . . . . . . . . . . .
PEMs . . . . . . . . . .
PEM---West . . . . .
PEO . . . . . . . . . . .
PEP . . . . . . . . . . .
PFM . . . . . . . . . . .
PGIM . . . . . . . . . .
PHCF . . . . . . . . . .
PHM . . . . . . . . . .
PHOTON . . . . . .
PL . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PI . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PISCES . . . . . . . .
PLZT . . . . . . . . . .
PIC . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lead Sulfide (detector material)
Lead Silicon (detector material)
Photoconductive (detector)
Printed Circuit Board
Protein Crystal Growth (Shuttle experiment)
Protein Crystal Growth / Single---Locker Thermal Enclosure System
(Shuttle experiment)
Peripheral Connection Interconnect (backplane commonly found in
IBM---compatible PCs). The industry standard PCI backplane (PCI local bus) allows development of custom interfaces that provide DMA to
instruments with unique interfacing requirements.
Pulse Code Modulation
Photodiode (detector)
Photodiode Array (detector)
Portable Document Format (Adobe standard)
Pacific Decadal Oscillation. PDO is a long---lived El Nio---like pattern
of Pacific climate variability.
Position Dilution of Precision (in the GPS information collection process a quality parameter --- PDOP is a measure of the geometrical
strength of the visible satellite configuration. The higher the number,
the more noise in the position reading)
Plasma Diagnostics Package (Spacelab---2 sensor, studies of the interaction between the Earths magnetic field and charged particles in the
ionosphere)
Preliminary Design Review (a formal inspection of a projects high--level design)
Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing (ASPRS journal)
Perturbation by East Asia Continental Air Mass to Pacific Oceanic Troposphere (campaign)
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (fuel cell technology), sometimes
PEM is also referred to as Proton Electrolyte Membrane. Both meanings are the same.
Plastic Encapsulated Microcircuits (PEMs are being used in many
space applications)
Pacific Exploratory Mission --- West (campaign)
Polyethylene Oxide (a fuel cell type)
Pole---Equator---Pole (transect of PANASH campaign)
Proto---Flight Model (generally an early version of a payload instrument)
Plant Growth Investigations in Microgravity (Shuttle experiment)
Pituitary---Growth Hormone Cell Function (Shuttle experiment)
Passive Hydrogen Maser (ESA selected the PHM as the master clock in
the Galileo navigation payload --- due to with its excellent frequency
stability)
Russian solar---terrestrial mission (K.8.1)
Phillips Laboratory of USAF (PL is headquartered at Kirtland Air
Force Base, Albuquerque, NM, and has locations at Hanscom AFB,
Bedford, MA, and Edwards AFB, CA)
Principal Investigator
Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, University
of Hawaii, Hilo, HI
Lead Lanthanum Zirconium Titanate (PLZT ceramics is a ferroelectric material with an interesting behavior of phase transition and transparency in quite wide spectral range (at least 0.4---6 mm), allowing to use
optical methods to study principles of solid state physics and optics)
Photonic Integrated Circuit
3453
PIC . . . . . . . . . . . . Peripheral Interface Controller (a family of Harvard architecture microcontrollers made by Microchip Technology)
PID . . . . . . . . . . . Proportional Integral Derivative (controller --- a generic control loop
feedback mechanism)
PID . . . . . . . . . . . Prototype International Directory (CEOS---defined Directory Interchange Format (DIF)); CEOS members operating an archive with PID
capability are: CCRS, DLR/DFD, ESA/ESRIN, NASA, NASDA,
NOAA, RAE, etc. . Hence, standardized archival access is possible
(see: IDN).
PIDC . . . . . . . . . . Precision Instrument Development Center (of the National Science
Council, Taiwan), Hsinchu, Taiwan ROC
PIK . . . . . . . . . . . . Potsdam Institut fr Klimaforschung (Potsdam Institute for Climate
Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany)
PILOT . . . . . . . . . Portable Inflight Landing Operations Trainer (Shuttle experiment)
PILPS . . . . . . . . . Project for Intercomparison of Landsurface Parameterization
Schemes (WCRP/GEWEX project)
PIN . . . . . . . . . . . . Positive Insulator Negative (diode)
Pioneer---10 . . . . . A NASA/JPL interplanetary S/C (Jupiter Flyby Mission) mission with a
launch March 3, 1972. Pioneer---10 is the first known man---made object
to leave the solar system when it passed Plutos orbit in 1983. In March
2002, after 30 years in orbit, the spacecraft was able to receive and retransmit a signal from NASA --- at a distance of more than 12 billion km
(22 hours roundtrip time) from Earth.
PIPOR . . . . . . . . . Program for International Polar Ocean Research
PIXEL . . . . . . . . . Picture Element
PLB . . . . . . . . . . . Personal Locator Beacon (COSPAS and S&RSAT). PLB is a satellite--aided search and rescue system that aims to reduce the time required to
alert rescue authorities whenever a distress situation occurs. In the US,
the FCC is permitting a PLB service as of July 1, 2003. The first ever rescue of a person using PLB in the USA took place on Nov. 14, 2003.
PLC . . . . . . . . . . . Programmable Logic Controller
PLL . . . . . . . . . . . Phase Locked Loop (communication technique to enable integration
of voice and data)
PLO . . . . . . . . . . . Phase Locked Oscillator
PM . . . . . . . . . . . . Phase Modulation (modulation technique of the main carrier)
PM . . . . . . . . . . . . Polymer Morphology (Shuttle experiment)
PM . . . . . . . . . . . . Post Meridiem (refers to the afternoon time designations in the US; a
time of 5 PM is equivalent of 17:00 hours in international notation)
PMA . . . . . . . . . . Pressurized Mating Adapter (Shuttle)
PMAP . . . . . . . . . Paleoenvironment Multiproxy Analysis and Mapping Project (see
PANASH campaign)
PMDG . . . . . . . . . Programmable Micro Diffraction Grating (PMDGs are attractive components for spatial light modulation in the infrared domain)
PMG . . . . . . . . . . Plasma Motor Generator (Q.109.5)
PMOD/WRC . . . Physikalisch---Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos, World Radiation Center (Switzerland)
PMS . . . . . . . . . . . Particle Measuring Systems Inc. (of Boulder CO)
PMST . . . . . . . . . Small (Piccole) Missions for Science and Technology. PMST is a program of ASI (Italian Space Agency) with such missions as AGILE [Astrorivelatore Gamma a Immagini Leggero, or (Extreme Light Imager
for Gamma Astronomy)] and DAVID (Data and Video Interactive
Distribution)
PMT . . . . . . . . . . . Photomultiplier Tube (detector)
PMV&D . . . . . . . (Plume Model Validation and Development (campaign)
PN . . . . . . . . . . . . Pseudo Noise (code)
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pn---CCD . . . . . . . pn---junction CCD (Charge Coupled Device) detector. A pn---CCD

combines high quantum efficiency, high---speed readout and excellent
energy resolution.
pn---junction . . . . A pn junction is a junction formed by joining p---type and n---type
semiconductors together in very close contact.
PNEDC . . . . . . . . Programme National dEtude de la Dynamique du Climat (France)
PNNL . . . . . . . . . Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Richland, WA, USA) of DOE,
operated by Battelle Memorial Institute
PnP . . . . . . . . . . . . Plug---n---Play. PnP refers to hardware and software devices in a computer (PC) that, after being installed (plugged in), can immediately
be used (played with) without requiring a system reconfiguration or
manual installation of device drivers by the user.
PNR . . . . . . . . . . . Pseudo Noise Number (a GPS series designation)
PNRA . . . . . . . . . Italian National Programme for Antarctic Research
PNT . . . . . . . . . . . Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (spaceborne service as provided
by GNSS)
PRN . . . . . . . . . . . Pseudo Random Noise
POCC . . . . . . . . . Payload Operations and Control Center
P---POD . . . . . . . . Poly---Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (the standardized deployer system of CalPoly)
POD . . . . . . . . . . . Precise Orbit Determination
POEM---1 . . . . . . Polar---Orbit Earth---Observation Mission (planned ESA Series) D.13
POES . . . . . . . . . . Polar---orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (NOAA series
of operational polar orbiting satellites), G.13
POGO . . . . . . . . . Polar---Orbiting Geophysical Observatory
POL . . . . . . . . . . . Prowdman Oceanographic Laboratories (UK)
POLAR . . . . . . . . NASA/GSFC Solar---Terrestrial Mission (K.22)
POLARIS . . . . . . Photochemistry of Ozone Loss in the Arctic Region in Summer (campaign)
POLINAT . . . . . . Pollution from Aircraft Emissions in the North Atlantic Flight Corridor
(campaign)
POLinSAR . . . . . SAR Polarimetry and Polarimetric Interferometry
PO/KB Polyot . . . Launch vehicle and satellite manufacturer in Omsk, Russia. PO = Production Association. In its post---war history, Polyot manufactured a total of about 1500 missiles, more than 750 space launchers (Kosmos---3
and Kosmos---3M) and more than 200 satellites.
PoSAT . . . . . . . . . Portuguese Satellite (D.62.9)
POSIX . . . . . . . . . Portable Operating System Interface for UniX (an IEEE standard for
Unix operating systems). IEEE1003.1 (1990) and IEEE1003.2 (1992)
PPARC . . . . . . . . Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, UK
PPARC KITE Club KITE (Knowledge Innovation, Technology, Enterprise). The
PPARC KITE Club is an established UK business network which includes defense, security, aerospace, and space sector activities. On
April 1, 2007, PPARC and CCLRC merged to form the STFC (Science
and Technology Facilities Council). STFC is an independent, non---departmental public body of the Department for Innovation, Universities
and Skills (DIUS).
PPC . . . . . . . . . . . Power Personal Computer (based on the MPC601---Chip)
PPD . . . . . . . . . . . Polymer Photo Detector
PPE . . . . . . . . . . . Phase Positioning Experiments (Shuttle payload)
PPF . . . . . . . . . . . Polar Platform (ESA Columbus program, PPF is utilized for POEM
payloads)
PPM . . . . . . . . . . . Pulse Position Modulation (PPM is a form of block encoding modulation technique in which bits are transmitted in blocks instead of one at a
time)
PPS . . . . . . . . . . . . Precise Positioning Service (GPS)
PPT . . . . . . . . . . . Pulsed Plasma Thruster
3455
PRARE . . . . . . . . Precision Rate and Range---Rate Equipment, H.8.2

PRESENSE . . . . Pipeline Remote Sensing for Safety and the Environment [a European
initiative (17 partner consortium, started in Dec. 2001) co---funded by
the European Commission. The aim of PRESENSE is to develop and
integrate the elements of a pipeline management system for European
gas/oil pipeline operators to improve safety, reduce survey costs and
improve transmission efficiency using remote monitoring techniques.]
PRF . . . . . . . . . . . Pulse Repetition Frequency
PRI . . . . . . . . . . . . Photochemical Reflectance Index
PRI . . . . . . . . . . . . Pulse Repetition Interval (1/PRF)
PRIMA . . . . . . . . Piattaforma Riconfigurabile Italiana Multi---Applicativa (Reconfigurable Italian Platform for Multiple Applications), ASI platform for a total S/C mass of 300---1000 kg
PRIRODA . . . . . Research module of the Space Station MIR (D.41)
PRN . . . . . . . . . . . Pseudo Random Noise
PRNU . . . . . . . . . Photo Response Non---Uniformity (PRNU is one source of pattern
noise in digital cameras)
PROBE . . . . . . . . Prototype Radiation Observation Experiment (campaign)
PRODEX . . . . . . PROgramme de Dveloppement dExpriences scientifiques (an ESA
program created in 1986). The PRODEX program office fullfils the
role of coordinating experiment development and awarding industrial
contracts.
ProSEDS . . . . . . . Propulsive Small Expandable Deployer System (tether experiment)
PROTEUS . . . . . Platforme Reconfigurable pour lObservation, les Telecommunications et les Usages Scientifiques (French minisatellite bus for a S/C
mass less than 500 kg)
PROTEUS . . . . . Profile Telemetry of Upper Ocean Currents [a NOAA/PMEL mooring
system, a taut---wire surface mooring with a toroidal float similar to ATLAS]
PSI . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland (database of space environmental data)
PSC . . . . . . . . . . . Polar Stratospheric Clouds
PSE . . . . . . . . . . . Physiological Systems Experiment (Shuttle)
PSE . . . . . . . . . . . Polar Sunrise Experiment (campaign)
PSF . . . . . . . . . . . Point Spread Function (used in image processing --- refers to the non--perfect optics of a system so the relative intensity of the point of light is
distributed). The PSF function is used to assess the spatial resolution of
an imaging system. PSF describes the distribution of light intensity in an
image of a point and sets an upper limit to a number of possible image
points per unit area.
PSI . . . . . . . . . . . . Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (a new way of processing SAR imagery that allow ground movements over wide areas to be detected and
monitored with even greater sensitivity)
PSK . . . . . . . . . . . Phase Shift Keying (a modulation technique)
PSLR . . . . . . . . . . Peak Side Lobe Ratio
PSLV . . . . . . . . . . Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (ISRO launch vehicle)
PSN . . . . . . . . . . . Piano Spaziale Nationale (previous name of Italys Space agency , now
ASI)
PSRC . . . . . . . . . . Polish Space Research Center, Warsaw, Poland
PtSi . . . . . . . . . . . . Platinum---silicide (detector material)
PTB . . . . . . . . . . . Physikalisch---Technische Bundesanstalt (Braunschweig, Germany,
since 1887). PTB is the German national metrology institute (timekeeper) providing scientific and technical services.
PTT . . . . . . . . . . . Platform Transmitter Terminal (data collection platform for ARGOS
system on a remote terminal in the ground segment)
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PTT . . . . . . . . . . . Public (Postal) Telephone and Telegraph (utility company). Refers to

operating agencies directly or indirectly controlled by governments in
charge of telecommunication services in most countries of the world.
PTTI . . . . . . . . . . Precise Time and Time Interval (US strategic systems and applications
meeting series in precise time)
Pumpkin Inc. . . . . San Francisco, CA, provider of commercial CubeSat Kit---based bus
(since 2003) and MISC (Miniature Imaging Spacecraft) Kit, a 3U CubeSat structure (since 2008) and 3U CubeSat Kit Hinge (deployable
panels)
PUS . . . . . . . . . . . Packet Utilization Standard (of ECSS). PUS has been used by a number of ESA and non---ESA missions (XMM, MSG, Integral, GOMOS
instrument of Envisat, ATV, rsted, PROBA, Rosetta, MARS Express, Herschel/Planck, CryoSat---2, GOCE, Galileo) in combination
with the CCSDS protocol.
PV . . . . . . . . . . . . Photovoltaic (detector)
PVT . . . . . . . . . . . Position, Velocity, Time
PVTOS . . . . . . . . Physical Vapor Transport of Organic Solids (Shuttle experiment)
PWV . . . . . . . . . . Precipitable Water Vapor (atmosphere)
PYREX . . . . . . . . Pyrenean Experiment (campaign)
PZT . . . . . . . . . . . Lead (Pb) Zirconate Titanate --- a ceramic material that shows a
marked piezoelectric effect. PZT---based compounds are composed of
the chemical elements lead and zirconium and the chemical compound
titanate which are combined under extremely high temperatures. Being
piezoelectric, it develops a voltage (or potential difference) across two
of its faces when compressed (useful for sensor applications).
Q
QA4EO . . . . . . . . Quality Assurance Framework for Earth Observation data --- QA4EO
has been endorsed by CEOS as a contribution to facilitate the GEO vision for a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). 5913)
QAM . . . . . . . . . . Quadrature Amplitude Modulation. QAM is a modulation scheme
which conveys two digital bit streams or two analog message signals.
Two orthogonal sinusoidal carriers are used to transmit data over a given physical channel. One signal is called the I signal, and the other is
called the Q signal.
QCL . . . . . . . . . . . Quantum Cascade Laser
QD . . . . . . . . . . . . Quantum Dot
QDIP . . . . . . . . . . Quantum---Dot Infrared Photodetector
QFH . . . . . . . . . . . Quadrifilar Helix (antenna)
QGG . . . . . . . . . . Quantum Gravity Gradiometer (based on atom interferometer)
QinetiQ . . . . . . . . New name of DERA (Defence Evaluation and Research Agency),
Farnborough, UK, pronounced as kin---et---tik (as of July 2, 2001).
QinetiQ is organized as a PPP (Public Private Partnership) establishment providing more managerial freedom. --- QinetiQ comprises the
greater part of former DERA, an agency of the UK Ministry of Defence
(MoD), incorporating the bulk of the MoDs non---nuclear research,
technology and test and evaluation establishments. On July 2, 2001, former DERA split into two organisations, DSTL (Defence Science and
Technology Laboratory) and QinetiQ plc. DSTL remains part of the
MoD and continues to handle the most sensitive areas of research. QinetiQ is a wholly government---owned UK Plc, and competes on the
world stage to deliver innovations to customers and their communities.
In Sept. 2005, QinetiQ bought the Verhaert Design and Development
N. V. (company) of Kruibeke, Belgium.
_____________________
5913) Pascal Lecomte, Greg Stensaas, Overview of progress towards a data quality assurance strategy to facilitate interoperability, June 3, 2009, URL: http://qa4eo.org/docs/GSICS_QA4EO.pdf
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QKD . . . . . . . . . . Quantum Key Distribution [a means for two (or more) parties to exchange with unconditional security an enciphering key over a quantum
channel, since its privacy against an eavesdropper can always be detected]. QKD guarantees the distribution of random sequences of bits with
a level of confidentiality that cannot be achieved by any classical means.
QMW . . . . . . . . . . Queen Mary and Westfield College (London, UK)
QoS . . . . . . . . . . . Quality of Service
QPN . . . . . . . . . . . Quadra Pseudo Noise (modulation technique)
QPSK . . . . . . . . . . Quadra---Phase Shift Keying (4---PSK is a modulation technique and a
data transmission standard). Soon 8---PSK and higher modulations for
such applications as DBS (Digital Broadcast System) will be used.
QSO . . . . . . . . . . . Quasi---Stellar Object (a QSO emits great amounts of radio energy)
QSS . . . . . . . . . . . Quadrant Sun Sensor
Qubit . . . . . . . . . . A quantum bit of information (the qubit is a bit of information
stamped in a quantum physical property, for instance the polarization of a photon). A qubit has some similarities to a classical bit, but is
overall very different. Like a bit, a qubit can have only two possible values --- normally a 0 or a 1. The difference is that whereas a bit must be
either 0 or 1, a qubit can be 0, 1, or a superposition of both. That information is described by a state vector in a two---level quantum mechanical
system which is formally equivalent to a two---dimensional vector space
over the complex numbers.
QuickBird . . . . . . Commercial imaging satellite (B.6)
QUT . . . . . . . . . . Queensland University of Technology, Australia
QWIP . . . . . . . . . Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (an IR sensor technology for
applications in the range from 6 --- 25 mm)
QWIPM . . . . . . . . Quantum Well Infrared Photon Multiplier
QZSS . . . . . . . . . . Quasi---Zenith Satellite System (NICT, JAXA, Japan), a GPS augmentation system of Japan consisting of a 3 spacecraft constellation
planned to provide a regional satellite positioning service as well as
communication and broadcasting services. The S/C orbits are elliptical
geosynchronous in 3 planes (120 apart).
R
R . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resolving power (used in astronomical applications). R = /, where
is the smallest difference in wavelengths that can be distinguished, at
a wavelength of .
RAAN . . . . . . . . . Right Ascension of the Ascending Node (orbit parameter, the angle
measured at the center of the Earth, from the vernal equinox to the ascending node.
RADAR . . . . . . . Radio Detection and Ranging
RADARSAT . . . . A Canadian (CSA/CCRS) EO mission with a SAR instrument (D.42)
RADCAL . . . . . . Radar Calibration Satellite (A microsatellite of USAF, launch June 25,
1993 from VAFB. It provides space---based radar cross---sectional area
calibration for more than 70 radars operating in the C---band, and carries two GPS receivers with the aim to demonstrate GPS based attitude
determination.)
RADFET . . . . . . Radiation---sensitive Field Effect Transistor
RAE . . . . . . . . . . . Royal Aerospace Establishment [Farnborough, UK, (in the early 1990s
RAE was renamed into DRA --- Defense Research Establishment)]
RAIM . . . . . . . . . Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (a GPS and GLONASS
technology --- RAIM requires a minimum of five visible satellites for
fault detection and six satellites for fault detection and exclusion)
RAL . . . . . . . . . . . Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Chilton, Oxon, UK)
RAM . . . . . . . . . . Random Access Memory
RAN (RAS) . . . . Russian Academy of Sciences
RARS . . . . . . . . . Regional ATOVS Retransmission Service
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RPA . . . . . . . . . . . Retarding Potential Analyzer (a technique used for the monitoring of

the space environment)
RASCAL . . . . . . . Responsive Access Small Cargo Affordable Launch [DARPA program
(started in 2002) to place payloads into orbit at reduced costs]
RASS . . . . . . . . . . Radio---Acoustic Sounding System (a ground---based system of wind
and temperature vertical profiles is used in meteorology and atmospheric research).
RBDS . . . . . . . . . Radio Broadcast Data System
RBSP . . . . . . . . . . Radiation Belt Storm Probes (NASA Geospace mission)
RCVR . . . . . . . . . Receiver
RCS . . . . . . . . . . . Radar Cross Section (a measure of how detectable an object is with a
radar; a larger RCS indicates that an object is more easily detected)
RCS . . . . . . . . . . . Reaction Control System (usually a S/C onboard system for the purpose to provide such functions as orbit maintenance or orbit raising
and/or attitude control, it may also be used for reaction wheel unloading)
RCSGSO . . . . . . . Reducing the Costs of Spacecraft Ground Systems and Operations (a
series of international symposia)
R&D . . . . . . . . . . Research & Development
RDL . . . . . . . . . . . Research & Development Laboratories, Culver City, CA (since 1984)
REBAL . . . . . . . . Radiation and Energy Balance for Imagery and Electromagnetic Propagation (campaign)
REFLEX . . . . . . . Radiation and Eddy Flux Experiment (campaign)
REFLEX . . . . . . . Return Flux Experiment (Shuttle SPARTAN payload)
REM . . . . . . . . . . Release/Engage Mechanism (Shuttle, used for Spartan flights)
REMSAT . . . . . . Real---time Emergency Management via Satellite (ESA project --- an
integrated system for communications and localization services in
emergency situations e.g. in forest fire fighting, earthquakes etc. )
REMSAT provides mobile high speed satellite links.
RENE . . . . . . . . . Rehearsal ERS---1 Validation Northern Europe (campaign)
RESTEC . . . . . . . Remote Sensing Technology Center, Tokyo, Japan (since 1975)
Resource21 . . . . . Commercial imaging satellite venture (under development by Resourse21 LLC, Englewood, CO, since 1995). Boeing S&C (Space and
Communications) is a major owner of Resource21, with members BAE
Systems, Farmland Industries Inc., and the Institute for Technology Development (ITD).
RESSOX . . . . . . . Remote Synchronization System of Onboard Crystal Oscillator (Japan)
Resurs . . . . . . . . . Russian satellite series for resource monitoring, D.44, D.45
Resurs---DK1 . . . Resurs (High Resolution 1), in Russian DK stands for Detailed Space
RF (R/F) . . . . . . . Radio Frequency (of active sensors, also data transmission link, etc.)
RFI . . . . . . . . . . . Radio Frequency Interference. RFI is an increasingly serious problem
for both, passive and active microwave sensing of the Earth.
RFID . . . . . . . . . . Radio Frequency Identification (a technology that incorporates the use
of electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the RF portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, or
person). RFID is coming into increasing use in industry as an alternative to the bar code. The advantage of RFID is that it does not require
direct contact or line---of---sight scanning.
RF---SET . . . . . . . Radio Frequency --- Single---Electron Transistor
RGB . . . . . . . . . . Red, Green, Blue (color code of a pixel)
RGGB . . . . . . . . . Red, Green, Green, Blue (Each of the letters represents one pixel, and
the letter indicates the color of the filter which is used for the associated
pixel. Hence, RGGB represents a group of 4 pixels.
RHCP . . . . . . . . . Right Hand Circular Polarization
RICE . . . . . . . . . . Regional Interactions of Climate and Ecosystems (IGBP/IGAC program)
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RIMS . . . . . . . . . . Ranging and Integrity Monitoring Station (EGNOS system)

RIN . . . . . . . . . . . Royal Institute of Navigation (UK)
RINEX . . . . . . . . Receiver Independent Exchange format (of GNSS receivers --- permits
the user to post---process the received data to produce a more accurate
solution)
RIRT (RIRV) . . . Russian Institute of Radionavigation and Time, St. Petersburg, since
1957. Prior to 1993, the institute was called: Leningrad Scientific and
Research Radiotechnical Institute (LSRRT); participation in programs: Tsikada, Glonass, Cospas---S&RSAT
RIS . . . . . . . . . . . . Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (a laser technique)
RISAT . . . . . . . . . Radar Imaging Satellite (of ISRO, India)
RISDE . . . . . . . . . Russian Institute of Space Device Engineering
RIT---10 . . . . . . . . Radio---frequency Ion Thruster (electric propulsion system of DASA)
RIT . . . . . . . . . . . Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
RITS . . . . . . . . . . Radiatively Important Trace Species (campaign)
RKA (RSA) . . . . Russian Space Agency, Moscow, since Feb. 25, 1992 (by decree issued
by the President of the Russian Federation). RKA has centralized control of Russias civilian space program, including all manned and unmanned nonmilitary space flights. --- On Oct. 25, 1999, RKA changed its
name officially to Rosaviakosmos (Russian Aviation and Space
Agency). In June 2004, the name Rosaviakosmos was changed to Roskosmos by the Russian Government. --- --- The prime contractor used by
Rosaviakosmos is RKK Energia, which owns and operates the Mission
Control Center in Kaliningrad and operates the Mir space station.
RRAM . . . . . . . . . Resistive Random Access Memory
RSC Energia . . . . Rocket Space Corporation, S.P. Korolev, Moscow region (since 1946);
responsibility for all Russian manned space projects; builders of launch
vehicles (Proton) and of S/C (i.e. MIR space station), payloads, sensors,
etc.
RLG . . . . . . . . . . . Ring Laser Gyroscope (an angular rate gyro)
RLSBO . . . . . . . . Radiolokazionnaja Sistema Bokowo Obzora (side view radar system)
RME . . . . . . . . . . Radiation Monitoring Experiment (Shuttle payload)
RMIB . . . . . . . . . Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium
RMS . . . . . . . . . . Remote Manipulator System (robot arm of Shuttle, provided/built by
Canada). RMS is a 15.2 m long articulating arm that is remotely controlled from the flight deck of the orbiter. The elbow and wrist movements of the RMS permit payloads to be grappled for deployment out
of the payload bay attach points or to be retrieved and secured for return to Earth.
RMS . . . . . . . . . . Royal Meteorological Service (UK)
RNAV . . . . . . . . . Area Navigation. RNAV is a method of aircraft navigation which permits aircraft operations on any desired flight path (user preferred
routes) within the coverage of station referenced navigation aids or the
limits of the capability of self---contained aids, or any combination
thereof.
RNII KP (ISDE) Russian Institute of Space Device Engineering, Moscow; a leading
company in the design and development of sensors; participation in
programs: Venera, Vega, Phobos, Luna, Mars, Prognoz, Granat, Resurs, Okean, Glonass, etc.
RNSS . . . . . . . . . . Radionavigation Satellite System (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO,
QZSS, etc.)
RNSS . . . . . . . . . . Radionavigation Satellite Service (ITU)
ROCSat . . . . . . . . Republic of China Satellite (Taiwan). --- Note: A public naming competition regarding ROCSat took place in Taiwan in late 2004. In this
contest, the ROCSat program was given the new nickname of FormoSat. Hence; ROCSat---1 became FormoSat---1, ROCSat---2 became
FormoSat---2, and ROCSat---3 became FormoSat---3. However, ROCSat is going to remain the project name.
3460
ROIC . . . . . . . . . . Readout Integrated Circuit (silicon device for readout of infrared detector photodiodes)
ROM . . . . . . . . . . Read Only Memory
ROMPS . . . . . . . . Robot Operated Materials Processing System (Shuttle payload)
ROSA . . . . . . . . . Romanian Space Agency --- Agentia Spatiala Romana (since 1991,
Bukarest, Romania)
Rosaviakosmos . . Russian Aviation and Space Agency (RASA), Moscow. The name of
Rosaviakosmos was adopted by decree (No 1186) on Oct. 25, 1999. The
previous name was RKA (Russian Space Agency) which in turn was
created Feb. 25, 1992.
Roskosmos . . . . . Federal Space Agency of Russia, Moscow. The new name of Roskosmos was determined by the government decision N 314 (Russia) as of
26.06.2004 (superseding the previous name Rosaviakosmos)
ROSHYDROMET Committee for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
(Russian Government Agency, similar in functions and services to EUMETSAT and NOAA)
ROTEX . . . . . . . . Robotic Technology Experiment (Shuttle/Spacelab---2 experiment of
ESA/DLR on STS---55, 1993)
Royal Society . . . London, UK. Founded in 1660 by a group of learned men who met to
promote scientific discussion. The Royal Society is the oldest scientific
organization in Great Britain and one of the oldest in Europe.
RRA . . . . . . . . . . RetroReflector Array (an onboard device used for satellite laser tracking)
RPI . . . . . . . . . . . . Repeat Pass Interferometry
RPS . . . . . . . . . . . Radioisotope Power System (RPS uses the heat generated from the decay of radioisotope material and converts the heat into useful electrical
power)
RS . . . . . . . . . . . . Reed Solomon (encoding technique). RS was initially proposed in 1960
by Irving S. Reed and Gustave Solomon of MIT/LL. It happens to be
one of the most effective error---correction schemes in the history of data handling --- for everything from computer hard disk drives to CD
players to data transmission to and from distant spacecraft.
RSC . . . . . . . . . . . Rocket System Corporation, Tokyo, Japan (RSC markets launch services on Japans H---2A vehicle)
RSCC . . . . . . . . . . Russian Satellite Communication Company (Moscow)
RSI . . . . . . . . . . . . Radarsat International Ltd. (Richmond, BC, Canada, established in
1989 by a consortium of Canadian aerospace companies and Lockheed
Martin of USA, RSI is the distributor of Radarsat data)
RSIF . . . . . . . . . . Rain---Sea Interaction Facility (at NASA/GSFC/WFF, established in
1993; RSIF provides a controlled environment for studies of a) microwave scattering from rain---generated features, and b) physical processes at the air---water interface and in the adjacent boundary layers)
RSNAS . . . . . . . . Regional Satellite Navigation Augmentation System (a concept of
NSPO, Taiwan, to further enhance the existing navigation and positioning capabilities)
RSNIC . . . . . . . . . Reprogrammable Space Network Interface Card (payload concept)
RSO . . . . . . . . . . . Resident Space Object. RSOs include active and inactive satellites,
spent rocket bodies, and other pieces of orbital debris created by decades of human activity in space.
RSRE . . . . . . . . . Royal Signals and Radar Establishment (Great Malvern, Worcestershire, UK)
RST . . . . . . . . . . . Radar Systemtechnik AG, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
RTCA . . . . . . . . . Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (Washington, DC)
RTCM SC---104 . Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services [the RTCM Special Committee 104 established the worldwide standard for meter--level differential GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) broadcasts]
3461
RTG . . . . . . . . . . . Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (a nuclear propulsion system

first flown on Transit---4A, also on Ulysses K.32). Deep space missions
in particular depend on RTG propulsion (the use of solar arrays is infeasible due to the significant distance from the sun)
RTG . . . . . . . . . . . Real---Time GIPSY (a GDGPS software package)
RTI . . . . . . . . . . . . Remote Terminal Interface
RTK . . . . . . . . . . . Real---Time Kinematic (a DGPS technique)
RTM . . . . . . . . . . Radiative Transfer Model
RTU . . . . . . . . . . . Remote Terminal Unit
RTSX . . . . . . . . . . Ranger Telerobotic Shuttle Experiment
RUM . . . . . . . . . Rotating Unbalanced Mass (a US patent for scanning)
R/V (or RV) . . . . Research Vessel
RVSN . . . . . . . . . . Russian Strategic Missile Force (agency responsible for launching most
of Russias military satellites)
RWS . . . . . . . . . . . Rijkswaterstaat (Rijswijk, Netherlands)
Rx/Tx . . . . . . . . . . Receiver/Transmitter
S
S/A . . . . . . . . . . . . Signal to Ambiguity ratio
SA . . . . . . . . . . . . Selective Availability (GPS)
SAA . . . . . . . . . . . South Atlantic Anomaly, Note: SAA is a major deviation from (even
roughly) dipole geometry in the Earths magnetic field which causes
asymmetrical strong enhancement in particle trapping. The localized
dip of the Earths trapped ion belts into LEO altitude can impact functionality of LEO spacecraft electronic components during traversals.
SAAMD/WBSAAMD Stand Alone Acceleration Measurement Device/Wide Band Stand
Alone Acceleration Measurement Device (Shuttle payload)
SAAMEX . . . . . . Surface & Atmospheric Airborne Microwave Experiment (campaign)
SABLE . . . . . . . . South Atlantic Backscatter Lidar Experiment (campaign)
SAC/CSIR . . . . . . Satellite Application Center [of CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), South Africa]. The SAC ground receiving station
(Landsat, Spot, NOAA/POES series, ERS series, Radarsat, etc.) is located at Hartebeesthoek south---west of Pretoria, South Africa. Initial
SAC tracking services started in 1961.
SAC---C . . . . . . . . Satlite de Aplicaciones Cientficas---C (Scientific Application Satellite---C), a mission of CONAE, Argentina (with partners)
SADA . . . . . . . . . Solar Array Drive Assembly (NASA)
SADM . . . . . . . . . Solar Array Drive Mechanism
SAF . . . . . . . . . . . Satellite Applications Facility
SAFARI . . . . . . . . Southern African Fire---Atmosphere Research Initiative (campaign)
SAFER . . . . . . . . Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (Shuttle system)
SAFIR . . . . . . . . . Satellite for Information Relay, C.6
SAFISY . . . . . . . . Space Agency Forum for the International Space Year in Europe (in
1992)
SAFOD . . . . . . . . San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (within the framework of the
US EarthScope program)
SAGA . . . . . . . . . Soviet---American Gases and Aerosols Experiment (campaign)
SAGE . . . . . . . . . Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (NASA mission, G.8)
SAI . . . . . . . . . . . . Space Applications Institute (of JRC, Ispra, Italy)
SAIC . . . . . . . . . . Science Applications International Corporation (HQs in San Diego,
CA, since 1969, with over 35,000 employees worldwide)
SAIR . . . . . . . . . . Synthetic Aperture Interferometric Radiometer
SAL . . . . . . . . . . . Synthetic Aperture Ladar (Ladar=Laser Detection and Ranging). The
SAL technique uses infrared light for SAR measurements (which is
103 to 104 times shorter in the RF wavelength than current SAR wavelengths in the microwave region). It means that phase coherence is
3462
SALRO . . . . . . . .
SALSA . . . . . . . . .
SALT . . . . . . . . . .
SALT . . . . . . . . . .
SAM . . . . . . . . . . .
SAMIR . . . . . . . .
SAMPEX . . . . . .
SAMS . . . . . . . . .
SAMSO . . . . . . . .
SAN MARCO . .
SANSA . . . . . . . .
SansEC . . . . . . . .

much harder to maintain. The SAL imaging technique offers the potential of much higher resolutions than SAR.
Saudi Arabian Laser Ranging Observatory, located some 45 km northwest of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (tracking of SLR systems)
Semi---Arid Land---Surface---Atmospheric Program (campaign). The
SALSA program is a multi---agency, multi---national global---change
research effort that seeks to evaluate the consequences of natural and
human---induced changes in semi---arid environments.
Savannas on the Long Term (IGBP program of France)
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (cold war agreement)
Shuttle Activation Monitor (Shuttle experiment)
Satellite Microwave Radiometer (ISRO sensor on Bhaskara S/C)
Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Explorer (GSFC mission,
K.25.1)
Space Acceleration Measurement System (Shuttle experiment)
Space and Missile System Organization (USAF in El Segundo, CA)
Cooperative Italian/NASA mission (A.28)
South African National Space Agency (since Dec. 9, 2010) 5914) 5915)
sans (without) Electrical Connections ---SansEC (developed at
NASA) is a wireless sensor measurement system that receives power
wirelessly, eliminating the need for a power source. The technology can
be used for fuel and other liquid measurements in vehicles, above or below ground fuel storage tanks as well as cryogenic fluid tanks. The technology has the ability to measure many physical quantities using only a
single component, including, but not limited to, fluid level, temperature, pressure, strain, structural damage, and rotational velocity.
SansEC sensors use self---resonating patterns of electrically conductive
material. Magnetic fields are used to power and interrogate the sensors.
Arrays of the SansEC sensors can be made from thin conductive films
placed on non---conductive surfaces and can be used as sensing skins.
5916)
SAO . . . . . . . . . . . Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (Cambridge, MA, USA)

SAPOS . . . . . . . . . Satellite Positioning Service [a ground---based DGPS network (over
200 sites of DGPS reference stations in Germany) of the German National Survey]. SAPOS is coordinated by BKG (Bundesamt fr Kartographie und Geodsie = Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy) of Frankfurt, Main.
SAR . . . . . . . . . . . Synthetic Aperture Radar (a high---rate imaging technique)
SAREX---2 . . . . . Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (Shuttle payload)
SAREX---92 . . . . South American Radar Experiment (ESA airborne campaign)
SAR---Lupe . . . . . Germanys first military radar (SAR) reconnaissance minisatellite mission (in development at OHB System, Bremen), contract award in Aug.
2001 by the German Office of Defense Technology and Procurement
(BWB). The project consists of a constellation of 4 satellites in two polar orbital planes. RF data transmission in Ku---band. The overall objective is to provide high---resolution X---band radar imagery (0.5 m) to
German defense forces over a period of ten years starting in 2004; the
full satellite constellation is planned to be in orbit in 2006.
SAR/MTI . . . . . . Synthetic Aperture Radar / Moving Target Indication ( a motion sensing concept)
S&R . . . . . . . . . . . Search and Rescue (Emergency System on NOAA S/C)
_____________________
5914) Launch of the National Space Strategy and the SA National Space Agency, Nov. 29, 2010, URL:
http://www.info.gov.za/speech/DynamicAction?pageid=461&sid=14919&tid=25109
5915) South
Africa
Launches
Space
Agency,
Space
Mart,
Dec.
13,
2010,
URL:
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/South_Africa_Launches_Space_Agency_999.html
5916) Stanley E. Woodard, SansEC Sensing Technology --- A New Tool for Designing Space Systems and Components, 2011 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, USA, March 5---12, 2011
3463
S&RSAT . . . . . . . Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking System (Canada/France/

NOAA). I.11
SAS---1 . . . . . . . . . Small Astronomy Satellite---1 (DoD S/C, launched Dec. 12, 1970)
SAS . . . . . . . . . . . Synthetic Aperture Sonar
SASA . . . . . . . . . . South African Space Agency (approved in Aug. 2006 by the government of South Africa)
SAS&R . . . . . . . . Satellite Aided Search & Rescue (INSAT---2 system)
SASS . . . . . . . . . . Subsonic Assessment (program, NASA)
S@tMax . . . . . . . . S@tMax (an emerging service as of 2006 developed at TU Delft, The
Netherlands) defines telematics as mobile wireless information services that connect users in mobile vehicles on roads to data, voice, entertainment, internet access, navigation and safety services. S@tMax
provides IP services to users using a ground infrastructure and satellites.
SaTReC . . . . . . . . Satellite Technology Research Center (Daejeon, Korea, since 1992, SaTReC is a university based research center of KAIST) SaTReC performs KITSAT operations, etc.
SaTReCi . . . . . . . SaTReC Initiative (SaTReCi Co. Ltd was established in January, 2000
by former SaTReC engineers, Daejeon, Korea)
SATO . . . . . . . . . . Space Adaptation Tests and Observations (Shuttle experiment)
SAXON---FPN . . Synthetic Aperture Radar and X---band Ocean Nonlinearities --- Forschungsplatform Nordsee (campaign)
Sb . . . . . . . . . . . . . Antimonide (detector type material)
SBAS . . . . . . . . . . Satellite Based Augmentation System (element of GNSS)
SBIR . . . . . . . . . . Small Business Innovation Research (a NASA---sponsored program)
SBIRS . . . . . . . . . Space Based Infrared System (a US DoD 10---year development program that was approved in Oct. 1996 to include HEO/GEO (referred to
as SBIRS High)and LEO (referred to as SBIRS Low) satellite constellations along with a corresponding ground segment. The planned space
segment will consist of 4 GEO, 2 HEO and ~ 24 LEO satellites. The
SBIRS mission is to develop, deploy, and to operate space---based surveillance systems for missile warning, missile defense, battlespace characterization, and technical intelligence). The SBIRS program office is
at SMC, Los Angeles AFB, CA. Note: the above original version was
cancelled by the Pentagon in 1999 due to cost overruns and technical
problems.
A new version of SBIRS Low was defined and funded in 2002. The restructured version consists of 8 LEO satellites. Deployment of the first
S/C are expected around 2007.
SBRC . . . . . . . . . . Santa Barbara Research Center (of Hughes Aircraft Company in Goleta, CA --- The name (SBRC) was valid until 1996; the facility was renamed to SBRS)
SBR . . . . . . . . . . . Space---Based Radar (a DoD program in the definition phase as of
2002). SBR is conceived as a constellation of reconnaissance satellites
in various orbital planes and altitudes (LEO, GEO). Some of the S/C
will feature SAR/MTI (Moving Target Indication) instruments. First
S/C launches may be expected in the time frame 2008.
SBRS . . . . . . . . . . Santa Barbara Remote Sensing (of Hughes Aircraft Company in Goleta, CA, since 1996). Note: in Dec. 1997 Raytheon merged with the defense operations of Hughes Electronics. The merger outcome was the
Raytheon Systems Company with HQ in Washington DC, consisting
of the following units: Raytheon Electronic Systems, Raytheon E---Systems, Raytheon TI Systems and Hughes Aircraft Company. SBRS instruments include: multispectral imagers (MSS and TM), radiometers,
spectrometers, polarimeters, and sounders.
Three major units of Raytheon Electronic Systems are based in Santa
Barbara/Goleta, CA. These are: RIO (Raytheon Infrared Operations),
3464
SB---SAT . . . . . . .
S/C . . . . . . . . . . . .
SCA . . . . . . . . . . .
SCaN . . . . . . . . . .
SCAPE . . . . . . . .
SCAR . . . . . . . . .
SCAR . . . . . . . . .
SCARAB . . . . . . .
SCARLET . . . . .
SCARS . . . . . . . .
SCATHA . . . . . . .
SCATT . . . . . . . .
SCCC . . . . . . . . . .
SCCCAMP . . . . .
SCD . . . . . . . . . . .
SCD---1 . . . . . . . .
SCE . . . . . . . . . . .
SCISAT/ACE . . .
SCIGN . . . . . . . . .
SCMS . . . . . . . . .
SCORE . . . . . . . .
SCOPE . . . . . . . .
SCOPE . . . . . . . .
SCPS . . . . . . . . . .
SCPS---SP . . . . . .
Scramjet . . . . . . .
SCRS . . . . . . . . . .
SCS . . . . . . . . . . .
SCSMEX . . . . . . .

SBRS (Santa Barbara Remote Sensing), and EWO (Electronic Warfare Operations).
Swift---Broadband Terminal for Satellite. SB---SAT is a communications terminal designed for LEO S/C applications that provides a
bi---directional communications link to the LEO from the ground via
the Inmarsat 4th Generation GEO Communications Satellite Constellation and the Inmarsat BGAN Network.
Spacecraft
Service Component Architecture (SCA) and Service Data Objects
(SDO) are emerging new industry standards (2006---2010) that simplify
service---oriented architecture (SOA) programming.
Space Communications and Navigation program of NASA. SCaN is responsible for three networks: the Space Network (SN), the Near--Earth Network(NEN), and the Deep Space Network(DSN).
Shenandoah Cloud and Photochemistry Experiment (campaign)
Smoke/Sulfates Clouds and Radiation (campaign)
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (of ICSU)
Spacecraft Atmospheric Reentry and Aerothermal Breakup (ESA
funded software package for spacecraft reentry simulation)
Solar Concentrator Array with Refractive Linear Element Technology
(a patented solar cell technology of AEC---Able Engineering Co., Goleta, CA, sponsored by BMDO and NASA/LeRC)
Scalable Self---Configurable Architecture for Reusable Space Systems
(in 2008 a research project at the University of Arizona using FPGAs to
fix a computer problem in a spacecraft)
Spacecraft Charging at High Altitude (satellite of the USAF)
(Wind) Scatterometer (ESA)
Serial Concatenated Convolutional Turbo Coding
South Central Coast Cooperative Aerometric Monitoring Program
(campaign)
Swept Charge Detector
Satlite de Coleta de Dados (Data Collection Satellite of Brazil)
Superconducting Electronics
Science Satellite/Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment, A.29
Southern California Integrated GPS Network
Small Cumulus Microphysics Study (campaign)
SCan---On---REceive (a digital beam forming technique in SAR instrumentation)
San Clemente Ocean Probing Experiment (campaign)
Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (ICSU)
Space Communications Protocol Standard (A standardization initiative by NASA, DoD, DERA and others with the objective to complement and expand the current CCSDS standards) Although the CCSDS
packetized standards provide the underpinning for the automated, error---free exchange of data between space and ground stations, it is limited to basic data transfer. SCPS will provide the additional capability to
aggregate both telecommand and telemetry data into recognizable files
and transport them end---to---end through the data networks containing space links in a reliable and secure manner.
SCPS---Security Protocol
Supersonic Combustible Ramjet (an air---breathing engine technology)
Saudi Center of Remote Sensing, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Soil Conservation Service (USA)
South China Sea Monsoon Experiment (campaign)
3465
SCT . . . . . . . . . . . Space Communications Testbed (as of 2006 SCT is being developed by

Comsat Laboratories, Glenn Research Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center, and Langley Research Center)
SCTP . . . . . . . . . . Stream Control Transmission Protocol (a new transport layer protocol
in the Internet, along with TCP)
S---DAB . . . . . . . . Satellite --- Digital Audio Broadcast
SDCM . . . . . . . . . System of Differential Correction and Monitoring (SBAS of GLONASS in planning as of 2009 by Roskosmos)
SDI . . . . . . . . . . . . Strategic Defense Initiative. In 1983, US President Ronald Reagan proposed the SDI plan in the Cold War period, pointing to a new defense
direction. However, implementation was held back because of technological shortfalls.
SDIO . . . . . . . . . . Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (within the US DoD, since
1984). In 1993, SDIO was renamed to BMDO (Ballistic Missile Defense Organization). In 2002, BMDO was renamed to MDA (Missile
Defense Agency)
SDMA . . . . . . . . . Space---Division Multiple Access (a beamforming technique permitting a multi---user environment). In the SDMA scheme, the same channel, the same time slot, and the same modulation scheme can be shared
with different distributed user terminals, thereby giving efficient frequency reuse by the large number of users under the coverage of a platform.
SDR . . . . . . . . . . . Software Defined Radio (a reconfigurable wireless technology --- a radio communication system which uses software for the modulation and
demodulation of radio signals). The benefit of SDR technology over
fixed---capability digital electronics is that the waveform implementationthe implementation of the algorithm that converts between digital data and analog radio signalscan be independent of the hardware
implementation. SDR will be a powerful innovator in the communications technology.
SDRAM . . . . . . . Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory
SDSC . . . . . . . . . . Satish Dhawan Space Center SHAR (main launch center of ISRO on
the south---east coast of India, Sriharikota)
SDSS . . . . . . . . . . Sloan Digital Sky Survey --- --- a major multi---filter imaging and spectroscopic redshift survey using a dedicated 2.5 m wide---angle optical telescope at Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico. The project was
named after the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The survey was begun in
2000, and aims to map 25% of the sky and obtain observations on
around 100 million objects and spectra for 1 million objects.
SEACAT . . . . . . . type of buoy (made by Sea---Bird Electronics), temperature and conductivity sensor
SEADEX . . . . . . Shoreline Environment Atmospheric Dispersion Experiment (campaign)
SEAFIRE . . . . . . South---East Asia Fire Experiment (campaign)
Sea Launch . . . . . A sea---going launch system, based at Long Beach, CA. Sea Launch is a
joint venture of The Boeing Commercial Space Co., Seattle, USA, KB
Yuzhnoye/PO of Dnepropetrosvk, Ukraine (provider of the Zenit
rocket), RSC Energia of Korolev, Russia (builder of an upper stage of
the rocket), and Kvaerner Maritime A/S, Lysaker, Norway and London, UK (builder of the self---propelled launch platform and the Sea
Launch command and assembly ship). The Sea Launch venture was announced in June 1994. The first launch of a demonstration satellite with
a Zenit---3SL rocket took place March 27, 1999 from the floating Sea
Launch platform, positioned at the equator. Sea Launch has a capacity
to put up to 5000 kg of launch mass into a geostationary transfer orbit
(GTO).
Seasat . . . . . . . . . . NASA/JPL EO mission (D.52)
SEASOAR . . . . . Towed profiling CTD and ADCP system (TOGA/COARE campaign)
3466
SeaStar . . . . . . . . An ORBIMAGE mission with the SeaWiFS sensor (B.12). In 1997

OSC renamed the SeaStar mission to Orbview---2)
SeaWiFS . . . . . . . Sea Wide Field Sensor (this sensor is considered the CZCS successor)
SECAM . . . . . . . . Sequential Color and Memory [European (French) video standard].
SECAM has an image format of 4:3, operating with 625 lines per picture frame at 50 Hz and 6 MHz video bandwidth with a total of 8 MHz
video channel width.
SECDED . . . . . . Single Error Correction --- Double Error Detection
SECOMS . . . . . . Satellite EHF Communications for Mobile Multimedia Services, an
EU project in the time frame 1995---98
SEDAC . . . . . . . . Socio---Economic Data and Applications Center (DAAC at CIESIN)
SEDIS . . . . . . . . . SeaWiFS European Data Information System (ESA/ESRIN)
SEDS . . . . . . . . . . Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (since 1980,
international student organization)
SEE . . . . . . . . . . . Single Event Effect in onboard logic circuits [SEEs manifested themselves in two ways: unexpected short circuits (Single Event Latch Up),
and in erroneous bit flips (Single Event Upset)].
SEE . . . . . . . . . . . Socit des Electriciens et des Electroniciens
SEE . . . . . . . . . . . Space Environments and Effects program since 1995 [NASA (US government, industry and university participants), also international participation]
SEEDS . . . . . . . . Seeds in Space Experiment (Shuttle payload)
SEG . . . . . . . . . . . Society of Exploration Geophysicists
SEH . . . . . . . . . . . Solar Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (Shuttle payload)
SEI . . . . . . . . . . . . Space Electronics Inc., San Diego, CA
SEI . . . . . . . . . . . . Specific Emitter Identification (of an RF system)
SEL . . . . . . . . . . . Space Environment Laboratory (NOAA, Boulder CO, real---time processing of all SEM package data, space environment forecasts)
SEL . . . . . . . . . . . Surface---Emitting Laser (a conventional diode laser with a horizontal
cavity, beams are emitted in the direction parallel to the wafer plane)
SEL . . . . . . . . . . . Single Event Latchup (refers to a potentially destructive condition involving parasitic circuit elements forming a silicon controlled rectifier.
In traditional SEL, the device current may destroy the device if not current limited and removed in time) In spaceflight an SEL in an IC (integrated circuit) is normally caused by cosmic radiation.
SELODE . . . . . . . Solar Exposure to Laser Ordnance Device (Shuttle experiment on
SPARTAN)
SEM . . . . . . . . . . . Space Environment Monitor (NOAA Sensor package on GOES and
POES series; Note: the GOES series SEM package arrangement differs considerably from the POES series SEM package)
SEM . . . . . . . . . . . Space Experiment Module (Shuttle structure for small experiments)
SEMAPHORE . . Structure des Echanges Mer---Atmosphere, Proprietes des Heterogeneites Oceaniques (French airborne campaign)
SERB . . . . . . . . . . Space Experiments Review Board [an instrument of the DoD STP
(Space Test Program) to select and manage projects]
SERC . . . . . . . . . . Science and Engineering Research Council (UK, the Mullard Space
Science Laboratory of SERC)
SerDes . . . . . . . . . Serializer/Deserializer. SerDes is a key component of serial communication architecture for high---speed servers and communications networking systems and point---to---point communication links. It is a vital
building block for spaceborne high---speed data communications. SerDes converts parallel data, typically a data bus, to one or more serial data channels (lanes) and vice---versa.
SERON . . . . . . . . South Eastern (US) Regional Oxidant Network (field program to study
atmospheric chemistry, July---August 1991)
SERSS . . . . . . . . . Space---based Earth Remote Sensing System (an imaging project of
Rosaviakosmos using the Monitor satellite series)
3467
SERT . . . . . . . . . . SSP (Space Solar Power) Exploratory Research and Technology [SERT
program of NASA established in 1999]
SES . . . . . . . . . . . Saab---Ericsson Space, Gteborg (HQ), Sweden
SES . . . . . . . . . . . Societe Europeenne des Satellites (Luxembourg, owner and operator
of the ASTRA satellite series, in 2001 SES acquired GE Americom of
Princeton, NJ). As of Nov. 2001, the new company is called SES Global,
SA
SESAME . . . . . . . Second European Stratospheric Arctic and Midlatitude Experiment
(campaign)
SESAME . . . . . . . Severe Environmental Storms and Mesoscale Experiment (campaign)
SESO . . . . . . . . . . Socit Europenne de Systmes Optiques, (Aix en Provence, France)
SET . . . . . . . . . . . Single Electron Transistor
SET . . . . . . . . . . . Single Event Transient (a SET occurs when the charge collected from
an ionization event discharges in the form of a spurious signal traveling
through the circuit. This is de facto the effect of an electrostatic discharge)
SETAS . . . . . . . . . Space Environments and Technology Archive System (NASA/LaRC)
SETI . . . . . . . . . . Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
SEU/SET . . . . . . . Single Event Upset / Single Event Transient
S&F . . . . . . . . . . . Store---and---Forward (a non---real---time communication technique)
SFDU . . . . . . . . . Standard Format Data Unit (a CCSDS format concept)
SFODB . . . . . . . . Spaceborne Fiber Optic Data Bus (SFODB employs a redundant
cross---strapped ring architecture supporting up to 127 nodes, scalable
data rates from 200 Mbit/s --- 1 Gbit/s per node)
SGG . . . . . . . . . . . Satellite Gravity Gradiometry
SGGM . . . . . . . . . Superconducting Gravity Gradiometer Mission, NASA (SGGM was
cancelled by NASA in the 1990s due to budget constraints)
SGLS . . . . . . . . . . Space---to---Ground Link Subsystem (DoD satellite communications,
an NRL developed system). Since the 1960s, DoD has enjoyed the exclusive use of the SGLS band (1755---1850 MHz) for satellite operations.
SGP4 . . . . . . . . . . Simplified General Perturbations Satellite Orbit Model 4. NORAD
provides TLEs (Two Line Elements) in conjunction with SGP4. These
elements are being used for many LEO missions in LEOP (Launch and
Early Orbit Phase).
SGR . . . . . . . . . . . Space GPS Receiver (a device built by SSTL, Surrey UK)
SGS 85 . . . . . . . . . Soviet Geodetic System 1985
SGS . . . . . . . . . . . Svalbard Ground Station (also referred to as SvalSat), located at
78.216 N, 20 E on the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago (also referred
to as Spitzbergen) near the town of Longyearbyen. SGS/SvalSat is
owned by the Norwegian Space Center (Norsk Romsenter), Oslo, Norway, and operated by the Troms Satellite Station (TSS). The high latitude makes SGS (just 960 km from the North Pole) a very sought---after
link for polar---orbiting satellites. SGS can in fact provide S/C contact
for all orbits of polar orbiting satellites having altitudes above 500 km.
5917)
In the time frame 1997---99, NASA built its own TT&C station (two
11m antennas in X--- and S---band) right next to SGS in support of its
own Earth observing satellites (Landsat---7, Terra, EO---1, SAC---C,
AcrimSat, CHAMP, QuikSCAT, Aqua, QuikTOMS, etc.). --- As of Aug.
1, 2001, TSS is operating a new 13 m multi---mission ground station in
support of Envisat and ERS---2 missions on a priority basis. Since the
end of 2000, ESOC has been tracking the ERS---2 S/C from SGS. --- The
EPS (EUMETSAT Polar System), consisting of the MetOp series, is
also planned to be operated from SGS. Two complete ground stations
_____________________
5917) T. Andreassen, T. Beck, J. Bolle, A. Haaland, A. Jensen, Polar Bears and Spacecraft Tracking, ESA Bulletin 109,
Feb. 2002, pp. 118---121
3468
SHAR . . . . . . . . .
SHARE . . . . . . . .
SHEBA . . . . . . . .
SHELS . . . . . . . .
SHF . . . . . . . . . . .
SHOM . . . . . . . . .
SHOOT . . . . . . . .
SHS . . . . . . . . . . .
Si . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SI . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SiAs . . . . . . . . . . .
SiGa . . . . . . . . . . .
SI . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SiC . . . . . . . . . . . .
SICH . . . . . . . . . .
SIDECAR . . . . . .
SIL . . . . . . . . . . . .
SIM . . . . . . . . . . .
SIMMS . . . . . . . .
SIMONE . . . . . . .
SIMPLEX . . . . . .
SIMOX . . . . . . . .

with 10 m diameter antennas are being installed for EPS. The ground
stations at SGS are operated by a team of TNOC (Troms Network Operations Center) from Troms.
In this context, there is another location on Svalbard, namely at Ny--lesund (78.9275 N, 11.8825 E), with the DLR/GFZ NGS (Ny---lesund Ground Station) using an S---band receiving antenna dish of 4 m
diameter, installed by DLR. NGS is remotely operated and maintained/serviced from DLR/DFD or from GFZ (program controlled operation by two---line elements). Initial remote operations of NGS
started in April 2001 with the tracking support of the CHAMP mission.
The tracking of the BIRD and GRACE missions is planned to start in
the second half of 2002, after multimission upgrades are implemented
at NGS.
Sriharikota Range (ISROs main launch site, India, located on Indias
east coast at 13.9 N, 80.4 E, about 100 km north of Chennai). SHAR
covers an area of about 145 km2, the range became operational in 1971.
In 2002, SHAR has been renamed to , SHAR (SDSC---SHAR) in
honor of the former chairman of the space commission, a pioneer of Indias space program.
Space---Station Heat Pipe Advanced Radiator Experiment (Shuttle)
Surface Heat Budget in the Arctic (campaign)
Shuttle Hitchhiker Experiment Launch System
Super High Frequency (3 --- 30 GHz band)
Service Hydrographique et Ocanographique de la Marine (French
Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service) since 1971, with HQ
in Brest, France. SHOM is a public service and a defense support
agency --- providing science and technical services (data acquisition, bathymetry, cartography, geophysics, oceanography).
Super Fluid Helium On Orbit Transfer (Shuttle experiment)
Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy (see O.6.3)
Silicon (detector material)
International System of Units ( from the French: Systme International
dUnits). SI is the most widely used system of units. It is the most common system for everyday commerce in the world, and is almost universally used in the realm of science. Since 1960
Arsenic---doped silicon detectors
Silicon gallium (detector)
Systme International dUnits (International System of Units)
Silicon carbide (example: SiC---type ceramic mirrors and structures are
components in optomechanical systems), in this context C---SiC is Crystal Silicon Carbide. See Glossary
Owl (in Ukrainian, see SICH---1 under OKEAN)
System for Image Digitization, Enhancement, Control And Retrieval
--- an advanced low---noise, low power microprocessor---based control
chip as of 2008 [an ASCI(Application Specific Integrated Circuit], designed by Teledyne Imaging Sensors of Thousand Oaks, CA, to convert
the analog signals into digital signals.
Space Innovations Limited, Newburry, Berks, UK [founded in 1983,
since 1998 a subsidiary of SpaceDev Inc., San Diego, CA; SSTL (Surrey) purchased SIL in 2000]
Space Interferometry Mission (NASA); now referred to as SIM---Lite
Seasonal Sea Ice Monitoring and Modeling Site (campaign)
Smallsat Intercept Missions to Objects Near Earth, [a mission constellation (concept study led by QinetiQ, UK) to search for NEOs within
the framework of ESA]
Shuttle Ionospheric Modification with Pulsed Local Exhaust (Shuttle
payload)
Separation by Implantation of Oxygen (a SOI manufacturing process)
3469
SIO . . . . . . . . . . . . Scripps Institution of Oceanography (part of UC at San Diego, La Jolla, CA)

SIPRNet . . . . . . . Secure Internet Protocol Router Network (integral part of DoDs Defense Information Systems Network)
SIPT . . . . . . . . . . . Socit Internationale de Photogrammtrie et de Tldtection
SIR . . . . . . . . . . . . Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR---A with Payload A; SIR---B with Payload
B, etc.), see J.21 --- J.23
SIRTF . . . . . . . . . Space InfraRed Telescope Facility (NASA/JPL, a spaceborne cryogenic infrared observatory dedicated to astronomy, a launch took place on
Aug. 25, 2003). SIRTF uses a Ritchey---Chretien telescope with 85 cm
aperture diameter, total spectral range: 3.6 --- 160 mm (cooled to < 5.5
K). The three instruments are: IRAC (Infrared Array Camera) operating in MWIR (3.6 --- 8 mm); IRS (Infrared Spectrograph) operating in
5.3 --- 37 mm range for high and low---resolution spectroscopy; and
MIPS (Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF) operating in FIR
(24---160 mm). S/C launch mass of 950 kg.
SIS . . . . . . . . . . . . Superconductor---Insulator---Superconductor (tunnel junctions, also a
microwave spectrometer receiver type)
SISNET . . . . . . . . Signal in Space through the Internet (ESA project within the framework of EGNOS and ESTB)
SITe . . . . . . . . . . . Scientific Imaging Technologies Inc. (US company in Beaverton, OR,
CCD imaging products)
SITP . . . . . . . . . . . Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics (of the Academy of Sciences of
China), founded in 1958. Development of optical and infrared sensors
since 1964 as well as radiometers.
SIZEX . . . . . . . . . Seasonal Ice Zone Experiment (campaign)
SJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shi Jian (meaning experiment or experimental). A spin---stabilized
scientific minisatellite series of CAST, China; launch of SJ---1 on March
3, 1971; SJ---2 (2A and 2B) launch Sept. 19, 1981, S/C mass = 257 kg for
each S/C (note: three satellites were launched by a single launch vehicle); SJ---4 launch on Feb. 8, 1994 (orbit: 210 km x 36125 km, inclination = 28.6), S/C mass = 396 kg; SJ---5 launch on May 10, 1999
SKA . . . . . . . . . . . Square Kilometer Array [International project plan of the IAU (started
in 2000) for a new radiotelescope which will come into operation in
about 2020]. Its collecting area will be almost 100 times larger than
todays biggest radio imaging telescopes --- --- providing orders---of--magnitude increases in sensitivity and field of view. The SKA project is
managed by the SPDO (SKA Program Development Office).
SKYLAB . . . . . . . Sky Laboratory, NASA Space Station of the 1970s (L.5)
SL . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spacelab --- a modular general purpose laboratory. An integral element
of NASAs Space Shuttle Program provided by ESA (build by MBB/
ERNO). Spacelab itself comprised several elements that could be
mixed---and---matched to suit mission requirements. A typical launch
mass of a Spacelab was in the order of about 10 tons. SL---1 totalled a
PM (Pressurized Module) mass of 8,145 kg plus a Pallet mass of 3,386
kg (including 1392 kg of payload mass). Spacelab is the first European
manned space project. A total of 22 missions were flown with Spacelab
starting with STS---9 (Nov. 28, 1983) until STS---90 (April 17, 1998). The
Spacelab program provided numerous investigators from many countries an opportunity, to fly their instruments. Experiments conducted
were generally in the fields of Earth observation, astronomy, atmospheric physics, life sciences, and material sciences under microgravity
conditions.
SLA . . . . . . . . . . . Shuttle Laser Altimeter (Shuttle payload)
SLAR . . . . . . . . . . Side---Looking Airborne Radar (an active sensor with Real Aperture
Radar technology)
SLC . . . . . . . . . . . Satellite Launch Center (complex)
3470
SloshSat---FLEVO A small satellite of the Netherlands to study fluid dynamics in low gravity with FLEVO (Facility for Liquid Experimentation and Verification
in Orbit). Shuttle payload
SLR . . . . . . . . . . . Satellite Laser Ranging (a network of ground stations providing services of laser range measurements)
SLS . . . . . . . . . . . . Space Life Sciences (Shuttle payload)
SLS . . . . . . . . . . . . Strained Layer Superlattice (infrared detector type)
SMA . . . . . . . . . . Shape Memory Alloy
SMART . . . . . . . . Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology (ESA Horizons
2000 mission)
SMART . . . . . . . . Smart Multi---Aperture Radar Techniques (in applications for high--resolution wide---swath SAR imaging). Use of multiple transmit/receive channels and the introduction of DBF (Digital Beam---Forming)
in the conventional SAR processing.
SMC . . . . . . . . . . . Space and Missile Systems Center, part of Air Force Materiel Command, with HQs located at Los Angeles AFB, El Segundo, CA (since
1954). SMC has operating sites throughout the USA, including the operating location detachment at NASAs Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas; Detachment 2 at Onizuka Air Station in Sunnyvale, CA; and
Detachment 9 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. SMC is also the parent center of the host unit at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque,
NM. SMCs work force totals over 9,500 employees. Some major programs of SMC are GPS/NAVSTAR, DMSP, SBIRS, etc.
SMCS . . . . . . . . . Scalable Multi---Channel Communication Subsystem. SMCS---332 and
SMCS---Lite are chips from the same family.
SMC/TE . . . . . . . Space and Missile Systems Center / Test & Evaluation Directorate. A
tri---service (Army, Navy, Air Force) S/C division with locations at Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM; Falcon AFB, Colorado Springs, CO;
VAFB, Vandenberg, CA; Los Angeles AFB, El Segundo, CA; and at
NASA/JSC, Houston TX. SMC/TE was established in 1992.
SMC/TEL . . . . . . Space and Missile Systems Center / Space and Missile Test Evaluation
Directorate. The Air Force serves as the executive agent for the Space
Test Program (STP).
SMC/TEO . . . . . . SMC / Orbital Telemetry, Tracking and Commanding Operations Division
SMDC . . . . . . . . . Space & Missile Defense Command (US Army Forces Strategic Command)
SME . . . . . . . . . . . Small and Medium sized manufacturing Enterprises (established in
Europe in 1992 by the EC)
SME . . . . . . . . . . . Solar Mesosphere Explorer (NASA, K.24)
SMEX . . . . . . . . . Small Explorer Program (NASA/GSFC program since 1988 supporting
disciplines in astrophysics, space physics and upper atmospheric science; SMEX missions are SAMPEX, FAST, SWAS, TOMS, etc.)
SMHI . . . . . . . . . . Sweriges Meteorologiska och Hydrologiska Institut (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute), Norrkping
SMM . . . . . . . . . . Solar Maximum Mission (NASA,K.26)
SMOS . . . . . . . . . Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (ESA mission, D.53)
SMS . . . . . . . . . . . Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (designation of the first US
weather satellites (1974); this series was later renamed GOES (NOAA)
SMTI . . . . . . . . . . Surface Moving Target Indication (a mode of operation of a radar to
discriminate a target against clutter --- detection of objects that move on
Earths surface)
SMTP . . . . . . . . . Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
SNAP . . . . . . . . . . Surrey Nanosatellite Applications Program (D.62.16)
SNAS . . . . . . . . . . Satellite Navigation Augmentation System, of China
SNC . . . . . . . . . . . Sierra Nevada Corporation, with HQ in Sparks NV, USA. SNC owned
subsidiaries are:
MSI (MicroSat Systems Inc.) of Englewood, CO
SNCMP . . . . . . . .
SNECMA . . . . . .
SNL . . . . . . . . . . .
SNOE . . . . . . . . .
SNR . . . . . . . . . . .
SNSB . . . . . . . . . .
SO2 . . . . . . . . . . .
SO4 . . . . . . . . . . .
SOA . . . . . . . . . . .
SoC . . . . . . . . . . .
SOCC . . . . . . . . .
SOCEX . . . . . . . .
SODAR . . . . . . . .
SODERN . . . . . .
SOEST . . . . . . . .
SOFC . . . . . . . . . .
SOFIA . . . . . . . . .
SOFIA . . . . . . . . .
SOFRADIR . . . .
SOHO . . . . . . . . .
SOI . . . . . . . . . . . .
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SpaceDev of Poway, CA
SpaceDev of Louisville, CO
Straight Flight Inc. of Englewood, CO
Service National des Champs Magnetique Pulses (Toulouse, France)
SNECMA Moteurs, Paris, France [manufacturer of aircraft and spacecraft engines (launch vehicles), also builder of electric propulsion systems for satellites].
--- SEPR (Socit dEtudes de la Propulsion par Raction) was founded
in 1944
--- In 1965 SNECMA launched its Space Motors Division
--- In 1969, SEPR merged with Snecmas Motors division to produce the
Socit Europenne de Propulsion (SEP).
--- In 2002, the company became a subsidiary of Snecma S.A. (that became the Safran Group in 2005), and adopted the corporate name
Snecma Propulsion Solide.
Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, NM --- since 1945, and
Livermore CA, USA; SNL is part of DOE and operated by AT&T since
1949). Since Oct. 1, 1993, SNL is managed by Martin Marietta Corp.,
now Lockheed Martin. Part of SNL is now part of LANL.
Student Nitric Oxide Explorer (N.26.1)
Signal---to---Noise Ratio
Swedish National Space Board (RYDSTYRELSEN), Solna Sweden.
SNSB is a central governmental agency under the Ministry of Industry,
Employment and Communication. SNSB is responsible for national
and international activities relating to space and remote sensing, primarily research and development.
Sulphur dioxide
Sulphur radical
Service Oriented Architecture. In computing, SOA provides methods
for systems development and integration where systems package functionality as interoperable services. A SOA infrastructure allows different applications to exchange data with one another.
System on Chip (communication I/F). A SoC can be defined as a single
device that incorporates CPU, ROM, RAM, IO, clocking, analog to digital, digital to analog and communication, or some mix of peripherals
to support a complete task.
Satellite Operations and Control Center (NOAA)
Southern Ocean Cloud Experiment (campaign)
Sound Detection and Ranging (system)
Societe Anonyme dEtudes et Realisations Nucleaires (French instrument company, Limeil---Brvannes), now EADS---Sodern
School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology, University of Hawaii
at Manoa, HI
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (P.195). A cooperative NASA and DLR astronomy observatory. A Boeing 747---SP aircraft, a modified airliner, is the platform of SOFIA. Flights start in late
2002, long---term observations for up to 20 years are planned. The telescope of SOFIA, provided by DLR, has an effective diameter of 2.5 m.
The mass of the telescope is 18,000 kg.
Surface of the Ocean, Fluxes and Interaction with the Atmosphere
(campaign)
Socit Francaise de Dtecteurs InfraRouge (HQ in Chatenay---Malabry, near Paris, France). Sofradir manufactures advanced infrared
detectors (IR) for military, space and commercial applications.
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (see K.27)
Silicon---On---Insulator (thin insulator technology for microprocessors). In SOI devices the electronic active layers are fabricated on the
3472
SOIF . . . . . . . . . .
SOIS . . . . . . . . . .
SOLAR---A . . . . .
SOLAS . . . . . . . .
SOLSE/LORE . .
SONEX . . . . . . . .
SONG . . . . . . . . .
SOP . . . . . . . . . . .
SOP . . . . . . . . . . .
SORCE . . . . . . . .
SOS . . . . . . . . . . .
SOUP . . . . . . . . .
Sovinformsputnik
SPA . . . . . . . . . . .
SpaceDev . . . . . .
SPACEHAB . . . .
SPACELAB . . . .
Space Imaging . .
SpaceQuest Ltd. .
SpaceWire . . . . . .

insulator layer, while in conventional bulk CMOS devices the active layers are fabricated on the silicon layer. SOI is the technology of choice
for radiation---critical applications (immunity to single---event latch--up from high---energy particles).
Spacecraft Onboard InterFaces (a sub---panel of CCSDS)
Spacecraft Onboard Interface Services (a standard is being developed
as of 2008 to map SOIS functions onto the protocols of SpaceWire,
MIL---STD---1553B and CAN)
ISAS Solar---Terrestrial Mission
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
Shuttle Ozone Limb Sounding Experiment/Limb Ozone Retrieval Experiment (Shuttle payload)
SASS Ozone and NOx Experiment (NASA campaign in planning)
Space Oceanography Navigation and Geodynamics) (a Workshop series on satellite altimetry)
Special Observation Period (in campaigns)
Standard of Practice (referring to those technologies which are mainstream and in common use)
Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment, A.30
Southern Oxidants Study (campaign)
Solar Optical Universal Polarimeter (Spacelab---2 sensor)
Provider/distributor of commercial imagery and image products, Moscow (since 1991). The company was founded by Russian space enterprises such as: a) State Research and Production Space Rocket Center
(TsSKB---Progress), Samara, b) the joint stock company Krasnogorskiy Zavod, c) NPO Lavotchkin, d) State Scientific and Production
Center Priroda.
Space Plug---and---play Avionics. SPA combines modularity, standardization, and intelligent interfaces.
SpaceDev Inc. is a commercial company with HQ in Poway (San Diego,
since 1997), CA, manufacturer of microsatellites (ICESAT, etc.), subsystems and propulsion
A concept for commercially sponsored and procured payloads and services on Shuttle. SPACEHAB Inc., of Vienna, VA, has a NASA contract
leasing Shuttle space on a commercial basis in the so---called Commercial Middeck Augmentation Module (CMAM), a pressurized research
lab owned by SPACEHAB (an extension of the Shuttle orbiter middeck in the Shuttle cargo bay). SPACEHAB in turn sells its services,
providing the needed support for commercial development of space
payloads as well as physical and operational integration, and all services
(training, etc.) for these payloads. Once in flight, SPACEHAB payloads
are crew---tended on request. The SPACEHAB contract was awarded
in Nov. 1990, the first SPACEHAB flight took place on STS---57 in June
1993. --- SPACEHAB---1, ---2 identifies also a series of Shuttle payloads.
Space Laboratory on NASA Shuttle missions (J.24 --- J.25)
Space Imaging Inc. (since 1994) of Thornton, CO, acquired EOSAT in
1995 [distributor of IKONOS imagery, ERS---1/2, JERS and Radarsat
data (USA), global distributor of IRS---1C/D imagery]. The owners of
Space Imaging are: LM, E---Systems (of Raytheon), Mitsubishi, Vander
Horst (Singapore), Halla Heavy Industries (Korea).--- As of Sept. 2005,
Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, the parent companies, have agreed to
sell Space Imaging to OrbImage Inc.
Small satellite and components builder, Fairfax, VA, USA (since 1994).
Provider of AIS services on AprizeSat---3 and ---4 (launch in July 2009).
SpaceWire (SpW) is an emerging network standard for on---board
space applications, composed of nodes and routers, interconnected
through bi---directional high---speed digital serial links, operating at
SpaceX . . . . . . . .
SPAD . . . . . . . . . .
SPADE . . . . . . . .
SPAN . . . . . . . . . .
SPARC . . . . . . . . .
SPARTAN . . . . . .
SPAS . . . . . . . . . .
SPDM . . . . . . . . .
SPECTRA . . . . . .
SPECTRE . . . . . .
Spectrum Astro .
SPHERES . . . . . .
SPI . . . . . . . . . . . .
SPICA . . . . . . . . .
SPICE . . . . . . . . .
SPIE . . . . . . . . . . .
SPIE . . . . . . . . . . .
SPIFEX . . . . . . . .
SPIN---2 . . . . . . . .
SPORT . . . . . . . .
SPOT . . . . . . . . . .
3473
2---400 Mbit/s. --- In 2010, SpaceWire has became a mature standard; it

is being implemented into many spaceborne missions.
Space Exploration Technologies Inc., Hawthorne, CA, USA (since
June 2002, founded by Elon Musk), provider of low---cost launch services (Falcon---1 vehicle) based mostly on reusable rockets
Single Photon Avalanche Diode
Stratospheric Photochemistry, Aerosols and Dynamics Experiment
(campaign)
Space Physics Analysis Network (based on the DECnet protocol). [The
US --- SPAN (NASA) service was discontinued at the end of 1990; the
E---SPAN (ESA) service will be continued]. SPAN permits user access
to data archives. The successor of SPAN in the US is NSI (NASA Science Internet), a dual protocol (TCP/IP and DECnet) network.
Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate (WCRP project, successor to STIB)
Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (Shuttle).
SPARTAN is a small free---flying vehicle (about 1 x 1.25 x 1.5 m) for a
variety of experiments (managed by OAST)
Shuttle Pallet Satellite (a Shuttle retrievable free---flyer platform for
payloads, SPAS was built by MBB), SPAS---1 on STS---7 in 1983, ASTRO---SPAS is a direct successor of SPAS, ASTRO---SPAS---1 on
STS---51 in Sept. 1993
Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator
Surface Processes and Ecosystems Changes through Response Analysis (a proposed ESA Core Mission), in 2001 SPECTRA is the new name
and successor of PRISM (Processes Research by an Imaging Space
Mission), an instrument, and LSPIM (Land Surface Processes and
Interactions Mission)
Spectral Radiance Experiment (campaign)
Spectrum Astro Inc. of Gilbert, AZ (since 1988); Spacecraft builder of
missions: Deep Space 1, MightySat---II---1, Coriolis, GLAST, etc. Note:
As of July 2004, Spectrum Astro Inc. was acquired by General Dynamics (HQ in Falls Church, VA). Spectrum Astro is now part of General
Dynamics C4 Systems of Scottsdale, AZ.
Synchronized Position Hold Engage Re---orient Experiment Satellites
(a testbed at the MIT Space Systems Laboratory) --- a reconfigurable
platform with representative dynamics for the validation of metrology,
formation flight, and autonomy algorithms.
Serial Peripheral Interface (communications bus)
Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics of ISAS
(Institute for Space and Astronomical Science at the University of Tokyo, Japan). A launch is planned for 2010 to L2.
Sensors Performance in Cloud Experiment (campaign)
Society of Photo---Optical Instrumentation Engineering (international)
Shuttle Plume Impingement Experiment
Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment
Space Information---2 Meter. SPIN---2 is a joint venture (company) of
Interbranch Association SOVINFORMSPUTNIK (Moscow, Russia),
Aerial Images, Inc. (Raleigh, NC), and Central Trading Systems, Inc.,
(Huntington Bay, NY). The objective is to market high---resolution
panchromatic imagery data (2 m) of past Russian missions (Resurs---F
series). See KFA---1000 camera system under RESURS---F (the camera is also known by the name KVR---1000).
Small Payload Orbit Transfer (an AeroAstro concept)
Systme Pour lObservation de la Terre (French Earth Observing Satellite), (D.55)
3474
Spot Image . . . . . SPOT program data distributor (Toulouse, France, and Reston, VA,
USA), a unit of CNES, France. As of July 15, 2008, the EADSs Astrium
Services unit has acquired a majority stake (81%) in Spot Image (from
CNES). --- In January 2011, Astrium fully integrated Spot Image and
Infoterra into new GEO---Information business division. 5918)
SPRE . . . . . . . . . . SPARTAN Packet Radio Experiment (an amateur radio experiment on
Shuttle SPARTAN)
SPS . . . . . . . . . . . . Standard Positioning Service (GPS)
SPST . . . . . . . . . . Single Pole Single Throw (Switch)
SPT . . . . . . . . . . . Stationary Plasma Thruster (method of electric on---orbit propulsion)
SQUID . . . . . . . . Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (detector type, most
sensitive device for magnetic field detection in particular with superconducting technology)
SQPSK . . . . . . . . . Staggered Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (modulation type)
SRAM . . . . . . . . . Static Random Access Memory
SRB . . . . . . . . . . . Surface Radiation Budget (GEWEX project)
SRC . . . . . . . . . . . Space Regatta Consortium (Konsorsium Kosmicheskaya regata) since
1990, the association is based on the premises of RSC Energia
SRC/PAS . . . . . . . Space Research Centre / Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
SRDL . . . . . . . . . Signal Research and Development Laboratory, Fort Monmouth, N.J
(of the US Army Signal Corps). SRDL provided important contributions (first solar power) in the early US space program.
SRGPS . . . . . . . . Shipboard Relative GPS (GPS augmentation system for the US Navy.
Within the JPALS program, SRGPS represents the shipboard component of JPALS. Instead of a precise surveyed point, the reference station is installed on a ship. Despite the ships motion, a single difference
calculation between a ship antenna and an aircraft antenna can be
made just as accurately as its shore based counterpart.)
SRI . . . . . . . . . . . . Stanford Research Institute (original designation, founded in 1946),
now: SRI International at Menlo Park, CA. The institute separated
from the University for legal reasons, --- SRI International is a nonprofit organization funded by contract research. About 2700 employees.
SRI . . . . . . . . . . . . Systme de Rfrence Inertielle
SRL . . . . . . . . . . . Space Radar Laboratory (Shuttle missions of SIR---C/X---SAR payloads)
SRLL . . . . . . . . . . Simple Radio Link Layer (protocol of some AMSAT S/C)
SRON . . . . . . . . . Space Research Organisation Netherlands (Stiching Ruimlteonderzoek Nederland, Utrecht, Groningen --- the Netherlands), since 1983,
builder of scientific instruments (HXIS, SCIAMACHY, HIFI, etc.)
SRSC . . . . . . . . . . Siberian Remote Sensing Center, Novosibirsk, Russia
SRTC . . . . . . . . . . Savannah River Technology Center (DOE facility in Aiken, SC, USA)
SRTM . . . . . . . . . Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, J.27
SS/CPMA . . . . . . Spread Spectrum/Code Position Multiple Access (communication concept)
SSA . . . . . . . . . . . Space Situational Awareness. SSA is defined as knowing the location
and potential function of every object orbiting the Earth --- active or inactive --- regardless of its size, its purposes, its mission and its status.
SSA ncludes the ability to track and understand what exactly is in orbit
from either space or from the ground.
SSALTO . . . . . . . Segment Sol Altimetrie et Orbitographie (a CNES/AVISO ground segment for altimetry satellites)
SSB . . . . . . . . . . . Single Sideband
SSBUV . . . . . . . . Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (Shuttle Experiment)
_____________________
5918) Astrium fully integrates Spot Image and Infoterra into new GEO---Information business division, Astrium, Dec.
1, 2010, URL: http://www.astrium.eads.net/en/press_centre/astrium---fully---integrates---spot---image---and--infoterra---into---new---geo---information.html
3475
SSC . . . . . . . . . . . Swedish Space Corporation (Solna, Sweden; a government---owned

limited corporation under the Ministry of Industry, established in 1972)
SSC . . . . . . . . . . . Stennis Space Center (a NASA center in Bay St. Louis, MS)
SSCE . . . . . . . . . . Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (Shuttle payload)
SSD . . . . . . . . . . . Spatial Sampling Distance
SSDL . . . . . . . . . . Space Systems Development Laboratory, since 1994 (at the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics of Stanford University, Stanford, CA)
SSEOP . . . . . . . . . Space Shuttle Earth Observation Project
SSETI . . . . . . . . . Student Space Exploration and Technology Initiative (ESA education
program, since 2000, participants are various European universities)
SSH . . . . . . . . . . . Sea Surface Height (measured by satellite altimetry)
SSI . . . . . . . . . . . . Spaceport Systems International, operators of the commercial California Spaceport at Vandenberg, CA
SSIP . . . . . . . . . . . Shuttle Student Involvement Program
SS/L . . . . . . . . . . . Space Systems/Loral, Palo Alto, CA (major US builder of communication satellites, consortium leader of Globalstar series, sensors, etc.).
SS/L is the successor of Ford Aerospace.
SSMA . . . . . . . . . Spread Spectrum Multiple Access (communication transmission technique) Spread---spectrum modulation is emerging as the technology of
choice to provide secure, interference---tolerant transmission.
SSM/I . . . . . . . . . . Special Sensor Microwave/Image (US Department of Defense, US Air
Force Sensor)
SSN . . . . . . . . . . . Space Surveillance Network (of the US Space Command, Colorado
Springs, CO). SSN maintains a global catalog of orbit elements for
RSOs (Resident Space Objects).
SSO . . . . . . . . . . . Sun---Synchronous Orbit
SSP . . . . . . . . . . . . Space---based Solar Power (referring to orbiting powersat concepts
that could eventually beam power to Earth)
SSP . . . . . . . . . . . . Sub---Satellite Point
SSPA . . . . . . . . . . Solid---State Power Amplifier
SSPD . . . . . . . . . . Superconducting Single Photon Detector
SSPM . . . . . . . . . . Solid---State Photomultiplier (detector type)
SSPP . . . . . . . . . . Shuttle Small Payloads Project
SRMS . . . . . . . . . Shuttle Remote Manipulator Arm (since 1981, also referred to as Canadarm1), built by Spar Aerospace of Canada
SSR . . . . . . . . . . . Solid State Recorder
SSRMS . . . . . . . . Space Station Remote Manipulator System (since 2001, provided by
CSA, also referred to as Canadarm2)
SSS . . . . . . . . . . . . Sea Surface Salinity
SST . . . . . . . . . . . Space Solar Telescope (planned Chinese satellite mission in LEO with
a 1 m diameter telescope using a 2048 x 1024 CCD detector array)
SST . . . . . . . . . . . Satellite---to---Satellite Tracking (a technique employed with two or
more S/C in various orbits for determining the Earths gravity field)
SST . . . . . . . . . . . Sea Surface Temperature (a physical parameter derived from radiometer data)
SS---TEC . . . . . . . Satellite---to---Satellite TEC (Total Electron Content) of the ionosphere (refractive GPS signal measurements between a GPS receiver
on a satellite and the GPS constellation spacecraft)
SSTI . . . . . . . . . . . Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative (a NASA program started in 94)
SSTL . . . . . . . . . . Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (University of Surrey, Guildford, UK).
SSTL is a commercial company whose principal shareholder is the University of Surrey. SSTL was set up in 1985 to provide a commercial outlet for the Universitys S/C engineering research.
In April 2008, EADS Astrium NV acquired SSTL from the University
of Surrey (approval from the European Commission was given in Dec.
2008). SSTL will remain an independent U.K. company with its indi-
3476
vidual brand, although it will have access to EADS Astriums research

and development, design, manufacturing, and test facilities, as well as
its deeper corporate coffers.
SSTV . . . . . . . . . . Slow Scan TV (a method of transmitting pictures by firstly converting
the picture elements to a series of varying audio tones. These tones
are then transmitted usually on SSB or sometimes on VHF FM).
SSU . . . . . . . . . . . Stratospheric Sounding Unit (UK sensor on NOAA S/C)
STA . . . . . . . . . . . Science and Technology Agency (of Japan)
STA . . . . . . . . . . . Space Transportation Association [Washington DC, In March 1998, a
NASA study on space tourism was released (General Space Travel and
Tourism). In response to the reports findings, STA has created a new
Space Travel und Tourism Division (under DOC coordination) to
promote public and private space travel]
STABLE . . . . . . . Suppression of Transient Accelerations By Levitation Evaluation
(Shuttle payload)
STADAN . . . . . . . Space Tracking and Data Acquisitions Network (NASA/GSFC)
STALO . . . . . . . . Stable Local Oscillator
STAR . . . . . . . . . . Satellite Technology For The Asia---Pacific Region. The STAR program is an international initiative to develop small satellites in collaboration with engineers and researchers from the Asia---Pacific region.
The STAR program was started in 2008 with offices at JAXA.
STAR . . . . . . . . . . Synthetic Thinned Aperture Radiometry
STARE . . . . . . . . Southern Tropical Atlantic Regional Experiment (campaign)
STARNAV . . . . . Star Navigation Experiment (Shuttle Spacehab experiment to validate
a new algorithm for S/C attitude control)
STARSEM . . . . . A European---Russian payload launch organization (since 1996, Evry,
France) that brings together all key players involved in the production
and operation of Soyuz launch vehicles (launches from Baikonur).
STAP . . . . . . . . . . Space---Time Adaptive Processing (in radar systems)
Starlette . . . . . . . . CNES Solid Earth mission, a passive satellite for geodetic studies with
SLR observations (E.19)
STARLink . . . . . . Satellite Telemetry and Return Link (ER---2 telemetry link, see P.81)
STAR---LITE . . . Spectrograph/Telescope for Astronomical Research (Shuttle payload)
START . . . . . . . . . System for Analysis, Research and Training (WCRP, IGBP, HDP)
State Center Priroda Moscow; Scientific and production enterprise for Earth remote
sensing, commercial distributor of imagery; participation in programs:
Resurs---F1, ---F2, Salyut, MIR
STC . . . . . . . . . . . Sensitive Time Control (SAR antenna parameter)
STC . . . . . . . . . . . Star Tracker Camera
STCUI---RAS . . . Scientific Technological Center of Unique Instruments --- Russian
Academy of Sciences (Moscow)
STDN . . . . . . . . . Standard Tracking and Data Network (NASA)
STEDI . . . . . . . . . Student Explorer Demonstration Initiative (N.26)
Stella . . . . . . . . . . CNES experiment on---board Spot---3 for gravity field studies of the
Earth (E.20)
STEM . . . . . . . . . Storable Tubular Extendible Mast (deployable space structure, like
booms, multi---element antennas, etc.)
Stentor . . . . . . . . . Satellite de Tlcommunications pour Exprimenter de Nouvelles
Technologies en Orbite [a French GEO communication satellite program initiated by DGA (Defence Procurement Agency), France Telecom, and French industry (Alcatel Space, EADS, Astrium)].
STEP . . . . . . . . . . Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle, an ESA/NASA program
proposal (1989). A MiniSTEP mission resulted due to economic
constraints.
STEP . . . . . . . . . . Science and Technology for Environmental Protection (CEC program)
STEP . . . . . . . . . . Solar---Terrestrial Energy Program (International Program)
3477
STEP . . . . . . . . . . Space Test Experiment Platform (a minisatellite bus of TRW Inc. and of
OSC for the DoD STP program)
STEP . . . . . . . . . . Stratosphere Troposphere Exchange Project (campaign)
STERAO . . . . . . . Stratosphere---Troposphere Experiments: Radiation, Aerosols, and
Ozone (campaign)
STEREO . . . . . . . Solar---Terrestrial Relations Observatory, K.30
STEX . . . . . . . . . . Sensor Technology Experiment (Shuttle)
STEX . . . . . . . . . . Space Technology Experiment (USA, NRO satellite launched Oct. 3,
1998)
STI---VAST . . . . . Space Technology Institute of VAST (Vietnam Academy of Science and
Technology), Hanoi, Vietnam (created in Nov. 2006)
STI . . . . . . . . . . . . SpaceTech International (since 2004, Immenstaad, Germany)
STIB . . . . . . . . . . Stratosphere Troposphere Interactions and the Biosphere (Program)
STIS . . . . . . . . . . . Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (new Hubble sensor since Feb.
1997)
STJ . . . . . . . . . . . . Superconducting Tunnel Junction
STL---1 . . . . . . . . . Space Tissue Loss---1 (Shuttle experiment)
STOIC . . . . . . . . . Stratospheric Ozone Intercomparison Campaign
STORM---FEST . Stormscale Operational and Research Meteorology --- Fronts Experiment Systems Test (campaign)
STP . . . . . . . . . . . Space Test Program [of DoD, the USAF manages STP, since 1965; As of
2001, STP has flown more than 420 experiments on more than 130 missions (STEP, POAM---III on SPOT---4, FORTE, REX---II, ARGOS are
some current missions of STP)]
STP . . . . . . . . . . . Solar Terrestrial Probes (NASA program with such missions as
TIMED, SOLAR---B, STEREO, MMS)
STP . . . . . . . . . . . Solar Thermal Propulsion
STPSat---1 . . . . . . Space Test Program Satellite---1 (of DoD)
STP---1 . . . . . . . . . Space Test Payload---1 (Shuttle)
STRAT . . . . . . . . Stratospheric Tracers of Atmospheric Transport (campaign)
STREAM . . . . . . Stratosphere and Troposphere Experiments by Aircraft Measurements
(campaign)
STRS . . . . . . . . . . Space Telecommunications Radio System --- a NASA open architecture
program for SDR (Software Defined Radio)
STS . . . . . . . . . . . Space Transport System (Shuttle)
STSat---1 . . . . . . . Science and Technology Satellite (of KAIST/SatReC, Korea)
STSI . . . . . . . . . . . Space Telescope Science Institute (Baltimore, MD, since 1981), also referred to as STScI. STScI is operating the Hubble Space Telescope. In
the future, STScI will also be responsible for JWST science and mission
operations, as well as for JWST ground station development. Note:
STSI is managed by AURA (Association of Universities for Astronomy
Research) under contract to NASA
STSP . . . . . . . . . . Solar Terrestrial Science Program (ESA). STSP comprises the SOHO
and CLUSTER missions
STSS . . . . . . . . . . Space Tracking and Surveillance System (a program of the US DoD).
STSS will be a constellation of satellites with both missile warning and
tracking capability. When the constellation is fully deployed, STSS will
provide stereo (two---satellite) coverage for determining target position information. STSS is being designed for an operational capability
after 2012.
SUCCESS . . . . . . Subsonic aircraft: Contrail and Clouds Effects Special Study (campaign)
SUMMiT . . . . . . . Sandia Ultra---planar Multi---level MEMS Technology (a MEMS fabrication process developed at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM)
SUNY . . . . . . . . . State University of New York (Albany, Binghamton, Brockport, Buffalo, Stony Brook, etc.)
3478
SUPARCO . . . . . Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Karachi, Pakistan)

SuperDARN . . . . Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (an international mostly ground--based distributed radar network for studying the Earths upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and connection into space). The TIMED mission
of NASA and the CLUSTER mission of ESA are also contributors to
SuperDARN. Coordinated observations since 1993.
SuperMOCA . . . Space Project Mission Operations Control Architecture (a NASA program)
SURFSAT---1 . . . Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Satellite (NASA/JPL)
SUVE . . . . . . . . . Solar Ultraviolet Experiment (Shuttle experiment)
SVAT . . . . . . . . . . Soil---Vegetation---Atmosphere Transfer (models)
SVFE . . . . . . . . . . Shuttle Vibration Forces Experiment (Shuttle payload on STS---90 and
STS---96)
SVGA . . . . . . . . . Super Video Graphics Adapter
SVHS . . . . . . . . . . Super Video Home System (a tape recorder system)
SVI . . . . . . . . . . . . Spectral Vegetation Index
SVLBI . . . . . . . . . Space --- Very Long Baseline Interferometry (conducted from satellites)
SVM . . . . . . . . . . Support Vector Machine. SVMs represent a new generation learning
system based on recent advances in statistical learning theory. SVMs
deliver state---of---the---art performance in real---world applications.
The SVM technology has found broad application in general machine
learning and classification tasks as well as onboard remote sensing.
SVN . . . . . . . . . . . Satellite Vehicle NAVSTAR (a GPS series numbering system)
SVS . . . . . . . . . . . Space Vision System (Shuttle camera system for ISS assembly)
SWADE . . . . . . . . Surface Wave Dynamics Experiment (campaign)
SWAS . . . . . . . . . Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (NASA/GSFC)
SWE . . . . . . . . . . . Snow Water Equivalence
SWH . . . . . . . . . . Significant Wave Height (altimetry)
Swift . . . . . . . . . . . A NASA astronomy mission (a multi---wavelength observatory) to
study GRBs (Gamma---Ray Burst)
SWIMSAT . . . . . . Surface Waves Investigation and Monitoring from SATellite (a French
proposal submitted to ESA in Oct. 2001)
SWIR . . . . . . . . . . Short Wave Infrared (spectrum, from about 1.3 mm to 3 mm)
SWOT . . . . . . . . . Surface Water Ocean Topography (a wide swath altimetry mission of
NASA)
SwRI . . . . . . . . . . Southwest Research Institute (San Antonio, Texas, an independent,
nonprofit, applied research and development organization with more
than 2,700 employees)
SWUIS . . . . . . . . Southwest Ultraviolet Imaging System (Shuttle payload)
SZ . . . . . . . . . . . . Shenzhou (divine ship). The Chinese Shenzhou program is a manned
spacecraft project which started in 1992 (first manned flight Oct. 15,
2003). Four unmanned missions took place: SZ---1 (launch Nov. 20,
1999); SZ---2 (launch Jan. 9, 2001); SZ---3 (launch March 25, 2002);
SZ---4 (launch Dec. 29, 2002).
T
TACAN . . . . . . . . Tactical Air Communication and Navigation System (a navigation aid,
primary Shuttle navigation device for landing, TACAN navigation is
provided for Shuttle within 300 miles of the landing site)
TACCAR . . . . . . Time---Averaged Clutter---Coherent Airborne Radar [a radar technique developed at MIT/LL in the early 1950s (to automatically compensate for the Doppler shift of the clutter echo)]
TAI . . . . . . . . . . . . International Atomic Time (standard). A time scale calculated at the
BIPM (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures) using, in 2000, data
from some two hundred atomic clocks in over fifty national laborato-
TAMEX . . . . . . .
TANGO . . . . . . . .
TANS . . . . . . . . . .
TAO . . . . . . . . . . .
TAO . . . . . . . . . . .
TAS . . . . . . . . . . .
TAS . . . . . . . . . . .
TAS---E . . . . . . . .
TAS---F . . . . . . . .
TAS---I . . . . . . . . .
TAS---ETCA . . . .
TAS . . . . . . . . . . .
TBD . . . . . . . . . . .
TCIPO . . . . . . . . .
TCM . . . . . . . . . .
TCP/IP . . . . . . . . .
TCS . . . . . . . . . . .
TCS . . . . . . . . . . .
TCXO . . . . . . . . .
T&DR . . . . . . . . .
T---DAB . . . . . . . .
TDI . . . . . . . . . . .
TDL . . . . . . . . . . .
TDLAS . . . . . . . .
TDMA . . . . . . . . .
TDRSS . . . . . . . .
TEA . . . . . . . . . . .
TEAMS . . . . . . . .
TEC . . . . . . . . . . .
TEC . . . . . . . . . . .
Technion . . . . . . .
TEDS Radio . . . .
3479
ries. The scale unit of TAI is kept as close as possible to the SI second by
using data from those national laboratories which maintain the best primary caesium or cesium (Cs) standards.
Taiwan Area Mesoscale Experiment (campaign)
Telecommunications Advanced Networks for GMES Operations [an
ESA project, led by Astrium, to integrate satellite communication services for the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security)
community]
Trimble Advanced Navigation Sensor (TANS Vector is a solid state
GPS attitude---determination and position---location system)
Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (bi---monthly academic
journal of Taiwan
Tropical Atmospheric Ocean (TOGA campaign)
Technology Applications and Science (Shuttle payload)
Thales Alenia Space
Thales Alenia Space, Espania (a subsidiary of TAS, since 1988)
Thales Alenia Space, France
Thales Alenia Space, Italia
Thales Alenia Space, Belgium
Thallium Arsenic Selenide (Tl3AsSe3)
To be defined (or: To be determined)
TOGA/COARE International Project Office (at UCAR, Boulder,
CO)
Trellis Coded Modulation (a modulation scheme which allows highly
efficient transmission of information over band---limited channels)
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (first introduced in
1969). Over the years, TCP/IP has become the dominant approach to
linking computers around the world. TCP/IP represents a communication framework for other protocols such as: email, FTP, HTTP, SSH
(Secure Shell), voice over IP, other multimedia protocols, teleoperation of remote systems.
Note: the TCP/IP represents two layers of protocol: the TCP part and
the lower level IP part. IP deals with how the data gets routed around
the network. TCP deals with making sure that all the packets arrive and
are in the correct order. TCP implies a two---way connection and a higher level of communications overhead to assure that all the packets arrive and are in the correct order.
Thomson---CSF Semiconducteurs Spcifiques, Orsay, France. Note: In
Dec. 2000, Thomson CSF changed its name to THALES Group
Trajectory Control Sensor (Shuttle payload)
Temperature Controlled Crystal Oscillator
Tracking and Data Relay (NOAA)
Terrestrial --- Digital Audio Broadcast
Time Delay Integration (a cumulative exposure concept for CCD imaging which integrates a pixels electron charges to suppress the readout
noise) observation mode
Tunable Diode Laser (spectrometer; TDLs are suited for detection of
trace gases by optical absorption)
Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectrometer
Time Division Multiple Access
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (NASA)
Transverse Excitation Atmospheric (pressure) laser
Technology Experiments Advancing Missions in Space (Shutte)
Thermoelectric Cooler
Total Electron Content (of ionosphere)
Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
TETRA Enhanced Data Service Radio
3480
TEKES . . . . . . . . National Technology Agency of Finland (Helsinki). TEKES is the main

public financing and expert organization for research and technological
development in Finland.
Telespazio . . . . . . Italian space company (since 1962) with HQ in Rome. Telespazio maintains a space center in Fucino, Italy for civilian uses.
TEMISAT . . . . . . Telespazio Micro Satellite (see C.8)
TeO2 . . . . . . . . . . . Tellurium dioxide
TerraServer . . . . . A joint venture of Aerial Images Inc., Raleigh, NC; Microsoft Corp.,
Redmond, WA; Compaq Computer Corp., Houston, TX; and Eastman
Kodak Co., Rochester, NY. TerraServer is a commercial service of
spaceborne and airborne imagery provision via internet. The imagery
offered comes from a variety of sources (commercial and institutional).
TERRIERS . . . . Tomographic Experiment using Radioactive Recombinative Ionospheric EUV (STEDI mission, N.26.2)
TERS . . . . . . . . . . Tropical Earth Resources Satellite [a joint program conceived by the
Netherlands (NIVR) and Indonesia (LAPAN) in 1985, the program got
stalled after phase A because of a lack of funds]
TERSS . . . . . . . . . Tasmanian Earth Resources Satellite Station (Hobart, Australia)
TES . . . . . . . . . . . Technology Experiment Satellite (ISRO) with a mass of 1108 kg in
sun---synchronous orbit (launch Oct. 22. 2001 from SHAR, India). TES
carries experiments in the fields of Earth observation and communications. Imagery of 1 m spatial resolution is obtained.
TES . . . . . . . . . . . Thermal Energy Storage (Shuttle payload)
Tesat---Spacecom Tesat---Spacecom GmbH, Backnang, Germany; builder of satellite
communication subsystems and payloads (TWTAs, SILEX, LCTs,
etc.). TESAT is the former Bosch Satcom, former Bosch Telecom, former ANT Nachrichtentechnik, former AEG Telefunken, former AEG
Fernmeldetechnik (1949)
TESEO . . . . . . . . Treaty Enforcement Services using Earth Observation (ESA program)
TES . . . . . . . . . . . Transition---Edge Sensor (superconducting TES technology represents
a significant advance in infrared imaging)
TETRA . . . . . . . . Terrestrial Trunked Radio, (the first truly open standard for the digital
mobile radio system)
TFC . . . . . . . . . . . Thin Film on CMOS (technology)
TFOV . . . . . . . . . Total Field of View
TGARSS . . . . . . . Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (IEEE publication)
TGDF . . . . . . . . . Turbulent Gas---Jet Diffusion Flames (Shuttle Experiment)
TGF . . . . . . . . . . . Terrestrial Gamma---ray Flash (a new type of transient event in Earths
atmosphere above thunderstorms, first recorded from the Compton
Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) satellite of NASA in 1994)
THEA . . . . . . . . . Thousand Element Array [an international project; a phased---array
ground---based radio telescope demonstrator with 256 broadband receiving elements in preparation for SKA (Square Kilometer Array), designed and located at Astron, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands]
THEOS . . . . . . . . Thailand Earth Observation System (an optical imaging S/C)
TID . . . . . . . . . . . Total Ionizing Dose (of an electronic component, measured on krad)
TIFF . . . . . . . . . . Tagged Image File Format (a raster format in pixel representation used
for scanned images)
TIFR . . . . . . . . . . TATA Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai (Bombay), India
TIMED . . . . . . . . Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics
(A.31)
TIP . . . . . . . . . . . . TIROS (or Telemetry) Information Processor (on---board POES S/C,
also a downlink data stream of NOAA S/C)
TIPPs . . . . . . . . . . Trans---Ionospheric Pulse Pairs (These strange signals, observed on
ALEXIS, are the most intense radio sources from Earth which can be
much stronger than typical lightning)
TIR . . . . . . . . . . . Thermal Infrared (spectrum, from 6 mm to about 14 mm)
3481
TIROS . . . . . . . . . Television and Infrared Observation Satellite (US Environmental/Meteorological Remote Sensing Program; TIROS 1---10 = 1st generation,
ESSA 1---9 = 2nd generation, ITOS (TIROS---M) = 3rd generation,)
TIROS---N . . . . . TIROS---NOAA (4th generation TIROS satellite series, starting with
NOAA---6, ---7, ---8, etc.)
TKSC . . . . . . . . . . Tsukuba Space Center, located Tsukuba Science City, Japan (since
1972)
TLD . . . . . . . . . . .
TLE . . . . . . . . . . .
TLE . . . . . . . . . . .
TLM . . . . . . . . . . .
TMA . . . . . . . . . .
TMIBD . . . . . . . .
TMIP . . . . . . . . . .
TMSAT . . . . . . . .
TMT . . . . . . . . . .
TNC . . . . . . . . . . .
TNO/FEL . . . . . .
TNO/TPD . . . . . .
TNSC . . . . . . . . . .
TOA . . . . . . . . . . .
TOF . . . . . . . . . . .
TOGA . . . . . . . . .
TOGA/COARE .
TOGA/TAO . . . .
TOGA/WOCE . .
TOMS . . . . . . . . .
TOPEX/Poseidon
TOPS . . . . . . . . . .
TOS . . . . . . . . . . .
TOS . . . . . . . . . . .
TOVS . . . . . . . . . .
Thermoluminescent Dosimeter (Shuttle payload)

Transient Luminous Event (such as lightning)
Two Line Elements (used for early orbit determination)
Telemetry (also abbreviated as TM)
Three Mirror Anastigmatic (telescope off---axis design method). Note:
the term anastigmatic refers to lenses that are able to form approximately point images of target (object) points.
Thermocapillary Migration and Interaction of Bubbles and Droplets
(Spacelab experiment)
TeleMedicine Instrumentation Pack (Shuttle payload)
Thai MicroSatellite, was renamed to Thai---Paht---1 (D.62.15)
Thirty---Meter Telescope [a collaborative PPP project of CalTech, the
University of California, AURA (Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy), and ACURA (Association of Canadian
Universities for Research in Astronomy)]. The TMT is a ground--based facility, the telescope design is segmented (492 hexagonal--shaped mirror segments), operations are planned to start in 2016. Note:
The TMTs AO (Adaptive Optics) system was successfully tested and is
ready to become actual hardware as of May 2009. The AO component,
known as the Tip---Tilt Stage, will work in tandem with a deformable
mirror to correct for the blurring of Earths atmosphere.
Terminal Node Controller (a communication concept first developed
by the amateur radio community in 1980).
Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research/Physics and
Electronics Laboratory (The Hague and Delft, The Netherlands)
TNO/TPD (Delft) is one of 14 institutes of TNO in the field of optical
instrumentation. Note: As of 2005, TNO/TPD was renamed TNO Science and Industry
Tanegashima Space Center (JAXAs launch site at Tanegashima Island,
Japan, located at 30.4 N, 131.0 E)
Top---of---Atmosphere
Time---of---Flight (measurement)
Tropical Oceans and Global Atmosphere Experiment (Program)
Tropical Oceans and Global Atmosphere Experiment / Coupled Ocean
Atmosphere Response Experiment
TOGA/Tropical Atmosphere---Ocean (array of wind and upper ocean
thermistor chain moorings in the Tropical Pacific)
TOGA/World Ocean Circulation Experiment
NASA missions (A.32)
Topography Experiment for Ocean Circulation (NASA/CNES EO
Mission)
Terrain Observation with Progressive Scan (a novel SAR operations
mode based on ScanSAR) Note: the terms TOPS and SAR is simply
contracted to TOPSAR
The Oceanography Society (USA, since 1988)
TIROS Operational System (NOAA)
TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (NOAA, a three instrument system consisting of : HIRS---2; SSU; and the MSU, TOVS data since
3482
TPCE . . . . . . . . . .
TPF . . . . . . . . . . .
TPF . . . . . . . . . . .
TPFLEX . . . . . . .
TPFO . . . . . . . . . .
T---POD . . . . . . . .
TRAC . . . . . . . . .
TRACE---A . . . . .
TRAGEX . . . . . .
TRANSHAB . . . .
TREE . . . . . . . . .
TREES . . . . . . . .
TRIAD . . . . . . . .
TriDAR . . . . . . . .
TRIO . . . . . . . . . .
TRIPS . . . . . . . . .
TRL . . . . . . . . . . .
TRMM . . . . . . . .
TRSC . . . . . . . . . .
TRW . . . . . . . . . .
TSAT . . . . . . . . . .
TSI . . . . . . . . . . . .
TSIM . . . . . . . . . .
TsNIIMASH . . . .

1979); Note: ATOVS = Advanced TOVS (a NOAA/NESDIS processing system)
Tank Pressure Control Equipment (Shuttle payload)
Terrestrial Planet Finder (planned NASA mission)
Two Phase Flow (Shuttle payload)
Two---Phase Fluid Loop Experiment (Shuttle payload)
TOPEX/POSEIDON Follow---On (mission, was renamed to Jason)
Tokyo --- Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (a smallsat deployer system developed by ISSL of the University of Tokyo, Japan)
Triangular Rollable And Collapsible) mast, [a deployable boom
concept invented and developed at AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory)]
Transport and Atmospheric Chemistry near the Equator --- Atlantic
(campaign)
Trace Gas Exchange: Mid---Latitude Terrestrial Ecosystems and Atmosphere (IGBP/IGAC program)
An inflatable system NASA is considering for use on the ISS starting in
2004
Tropical Rain---Forest Ecology Experiment (campaign)
Tropical Ecosystem Environment Observation by Satellites (Joint
CEC, JRC and ESA program
Transit---Improved DISCOS (US Navy S/C built by APL) H.7
Triangulation +LIDAR --- a 3D sensor and efficient model based tracking algorithms to provide 6 degree of freedom (6DOF) relative pose information in realtime. The active vision system for rendezvous & docking was developed by Netec and CSA (Canada) and was first flown on
STS---128 in Aug. 2009
Temperature RIO (Remote Input/Output), a smart sensor chip (a multiplexed ADC+other)
Tera---op, Reliable, Intelligently adaptive Processing System ( a new
computer architecture, developed at the University of Texas, Austin,
TX). The TRIPS prototype was introduced in May 2007. TRIPS is a
demonstration of a new class of processing architectures called Explicit
Data Graph Execution (EDGE).
Technology Readiness Level. TRL is a measure to assess the maturity of
evolving technologies (materials, components, devices, etc.) prior to incorporating that technology into a system or subsystem.
TRL---1 = Basic principles observed and reported
TRL---6 = System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a
relevant environment (ground or space)
TRL---9 = Actual system flight proven through successful mission
operations.
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (NASA---NASDA Mission), A.34
Thailand Remote Sensing Center, Bangkok
Thompson, Ramo and Wooldridge [TRW Space & Electronics Group
is located at Redondo Beach, CA; TRW HQs in Cleveland, OH].
Manufacturer of communication satellites (TDRS, Odyssey series),
military spacecraft (STEP, AXAF, etc.), and remote sensing satellites
(Lewis, EOS/PM---1, TOMS/EP, KOMPSAT---1, ROCSat---1, Aqua,
Terra, Chandra X---Ray Observatory, etc.). Note: Los Angeles based
Northrop Grumman purchased TRW in Dec. 2002.
Transformational Communications Satellite (of DoD)
Total Solar Irradiance
Total Solar Irradiance Mission
Central Research Institute of Machine Building, Korelev (Moscow Region), Russia (launch vehicle provider)
3483
TsSKB---Progress the Russian acronym for Central Specialized Design Bureau Progress, Samara Space Center (on the Volga River, 1000 km southeast of
Moscow), builder of Resurs---F (and Resurs---DK) satellite series. Also
builder of the famous Soyuz rocket series.
TSS---1R . . . . . . . Tethered Satellite System (ASI payload on Shuttle)
TsUP . . . . . . . . . . Russian MCC (Mission Control Center) near Moscow. TsUP has controlled the Russian Manned Mission Program since about 1970 (including MIR, ISS, etc. as well as normal EO missions).
TT&C . . . . . . . . . Telemetry, Tracking & Command (Data for S/C Operations)
TTFM . . . . . . . . . Two---Tone Frequency Modulation (a measurement technique for
trace gases)
TTL . . . . . . . . . . . Transistor---Transistor Logic (semiconductor technology of the 1960s
and 1970s --- the microprocessor revolution began in 1973)
TUB . . . . . . . . . . . Technical University of Berlin, Germany
TUBSAT . . . . . . . Technical University of Berlin Satellite (N.31)
TBITAK UZAY TUBITAK---UZAY (Scientific and Technological Research Council of
Turkey --- Space Technologies Research Institute), Ankara, Turkey
(since 1984). In 2206, the former BILTEN was renamed to UZAY
(Space Technologies Research Institute). TBITAK itself was founded
in 1963; it is the leading agency for management, funding and conduct
of research in Turkey.
TUD . . . . . . . . . . Technical University of Denmark (Lyngby, Denmark)
TUFI . . . . . . . . . . Toughened Uni---Piece Fibrous Insulation (Shuttle payload)
TUI . . . . . . . . . . . Tethers Unlimited Inc., Lynnwood,WA, USA (since 1994)
TUK . . . . . . . . . . . Turk Uzay Kurumu (Turkish Space Agency, since 2004)
TVA . . . . . . . . . . . Tennessee Valley Authority (USA)
TWSTFT . . . . . . . Two---Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (an accurate time
measurement technique)
TWTA . . . . . . . . . Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (communication, amplification of a microwave frequency)
U
UAH . . . . . . . . . . University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL
UARP . . . . . . . . . Upper Atmospheric Research Program (NASA)
UARS . . . . . . . . . Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (NASA satellite, launch: Sept.
1991) A.35
UART . . . . . . . . . Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
UAV . . . . . . . . . . . Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (PERSEUS, CONDOR, etc.)
UC . . . . . . . . . . . . University of California [a nine campus university across the state,
UCLA (Los Angeles), UCB (Berkeley), UCSD (San Diego), UCSB
(Santa Barbara), UCI (Irvine), UCR (Riverside), UCSC (Santa Cruz),
UCD (Davis), etc.]
UCAR . . . . . . . . . University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (Boulder, CO,
UCAR is sponsored by NSF --- there are over 60 member institutions in
UCAR)
UCB/SSL . . . . . . . University of California, Berkeley/Space Sciences Laboratory (since
1959)
UCCS . . . . . . . . . University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
UCLA . . . . . . . . . University of California, Los Angeles
UDP/IP . . . . . . . . User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol. Note: UDP/IP does not
need any handshaking to transfer data. TCP/IP requires bi---directional
handshaking prior to data transfer.
UFO . . . . . . . . . . . UHF Follow---On (US DoD communication satellite series for tactical
communications). The constellation, consisting of eight active spacecraft plus an in---orbit spare, supports the Navys global communications network, serving ships at sea and a variety of other US military
fixed and mobile terminals.
3484
UHB . . . . . . . . . .
UHF . . . . . . . . . .
UHMWPE . . . . .
UIT . . . . . . . . . . .
UIT . . . . . . . . . . .
UKAEA . . . . . . .
UKDoE . . . . . . . .
UKMO . . . . . . . .
UKS . . . . . . . . . . .
UKSA . . . . . . . . .
ULA . . . . . . . . . . .
ULF . . . . . . . . . . .
ULF . . . . . . . . . .
ULIRGs . . . . . . .

User Home Base
Ultra High Frequency (300 --- 3000 MHz band)
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (a very tough fabric)
Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (part of ASTRO---1 payload on Shuttle)
Union Internationale des Tlcommunications
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
United Kingdom Department of the Environment
United Kingdom Meteorological Office (same as BMO, HQs and
Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction & Research are located in Bracknell, Remote Sensing Instrumentation branch in Farnborough)
United Kingdom Subsatellite (S/C of the AMPTE mission, K.4.2)
United Kingdom Space Agency (since April 1, 2010 --- up to this point
UK space policy has been split between government departments).
UKSA is replacing the former BNSC (British National Space Centre).
United Launch Alliance (since Dec. 2006). ULA is a joint venture
between Boeing and Lockheed Martin that operates space launch systems using the Atlas V, Delta II, and Delta IV.
Ultra Low Frequency. The designation ULF usually refers to waves
with frequencies less than 1 Hz. Waves with frequencies in the mHz
range have scale sizes comparable to the size of Earths magnetosphere
and are therefore strongly affected by the magnetospheric structure.
Utility and Logistics Flight (Shuttle missions to ISS)
Ultra---Luminous IR Galaxies
UMRR . . . . . . . . Universal Medium Range Radar

UMTS . . . . . . . . . Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (standard, 3rd generation system, defined in Europe)
UNAM . . . . . . . . Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico, Mexico City
UNAM---CE . . . . Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico --- Centro de Ecologica,
Mexico
UNAM---IG . . . . Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico --- Institoto de Geologica
UNAVCO . . . . . . University Navstar Consortium (a US Earth sciences community initiative to foster GPS applications in particular in the area of surveying)
UNCED . . . . . . . United Nations Conference on Environment & Development
UNDP . . . . . . . . . United Nations Development Programme
UNAVCO . . . . . . University NAVSTAR Consortium (USA)
UNCOPUOS---STSC UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space---Scientific
and Technical Subcommittee
UNEP . . . . . . . . . United Nations Environmental Programme (since 1972)
UNEP/GRID . . . UNEP Global Resource Information Database
UNESCO . . . . . . United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
(based in Paris, France)
UN---ESCAP . . . . UN---Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand
UnESS . . . . . . . . . University Earth System Science (a NASA initiative with the objective
to involve the student community in Earth science projects)
UNEX . . . . . . . . . University---class Explorer [(mission) --- A NASA program supporting
university---designed/developed missions. The UNEX program is designed to provide frequent flight opportunities for highly focused and
relatively inexpensive science missions whose total cost to NASA is limited to $13 million. The program is managed by NASA/GSFC.]. The
first UNEX mission to orbit was CHIPSat (launch Jan. 13, 2003), a microsatellite of UCB (University of California at Berkeley).
UNFCCC . . . . . . United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto
Protocol, Copenhagen Conference)
UNH . . . . . . . . . . University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
3485
UNISEC . . . . . . . University Space Engineering Consortium (since 2002), a non---profit

Japanese organization with the objective to support practical space development activities in universities and colleges
UNISPACE . . . . . United Nations Conference on the Exploration of the Committee on
the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE---III took place in Vienna, Austria (July 19---30, 1999 --- the first two UNISPACE conferences
were held in 1968 and 1982)
United Solar . . . . United Solar Power Corporation of Troy, MI (called United Solar) was
founded in 1990 by Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ECD) and Canon
Inc. (UNI---Solar as of 2000). Manufacturer of PV devices, developer of
FTFPV (Flexible Thin---Film Photovoltatics).
UNOLS . . . . . . . . University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (USA)
UNS . . . . . . . . . . . Universal Navigation System
UNOOSA . . . . . . United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (Vienna, Austria)
UNOSAT . . . . . . UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Program --- implemented in cooperation with the
European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). UNOSAT is a
humanitarian rapid mapping service, created in 2003, used by the UN
relief and coordination agencies.
UoSAT . . . . . . . . . University of Surrey Satellite (UK, D.62)
Un---SPIDER . . . United Nations Platform for Space---based Information for Disaster
Management and Emergency Response (since 2007)
UPC . . . . . . . . . . . Universidad Politcnica de Catalunya, Barcelona (Spain)
UPM . . . . . . . . . . Universidad Politcnica de Madrid (Spain)
UQPSK . . . . . . . . Unbalanced Quadrature Phase---Shift Keying ( technique)
URE . . . . . . . . . . User Range Error (of GPS position service)
URFC . . . . . . . . . Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell [URFC is generically a water--based technology for space applications (with options for S/C propulsion, power, energy storage)]
URL . . . . . . . . . . . Uniform Resource Locator (WWW) for file:, http:, news:, and telnet:
URSI . . . . . . . . . . Union Radio Scientifique Internationale (International Union of Radio Science), Secretariat at Ghent University, Belgium
USA . . . . . . . . . . . United States of America
USA . . . . . . . . . . . United Space Alliance LLC [of Houston, TX, a joint venture of Rockwell International (now The Boeing Company) and Lockheed Martin]
--- USA is the NASA prime contractor for all Space Shuttle operations/
management at MSFC and at KSC, since Oct. 1996)
USACE . . . . . . . . US Army Corps of Engineers
USAF . . . . . . . . . . US Air Force
USAFA . . . . . . . . United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO)
USAFB . . . . . . . . US Air Force Base
USAF/PL . . . . . . . USAF/Phillips Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM [part of
AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory), note: in 1998 the Phillips Laboratory was renamed: Phillips Research Site]
USAF/RL . . . . . . USAF/Rome Laboratory, Griffiss AFB, Rome, NY [part of AFRL]
USAF/SMC . . . . . USAF/Space & Missile Systems Center (see SMC/TE)
USAKA . . . . . . . . U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (launch site in the central Pacific Ocean)
USArray . . . . . . . United States Seismic Array (within the framework of EarthScope)
USART . . . . . . . . Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (chip)
USB . . . . . . . . . . . Unified S---band. Refers to the NASA and NOAA TT&C de---facto
communication link standard in use (S---band on frequencies around
2.2. GHz). The system was developed at JPL combining telemetry,
tracking (ranging), command, voice and TV transmission functions
into a single antenna.
USB . . . . . . . . . . . Universal Serial Bus (connectors)
USCG . . . . . . . . . US Coast Guard
3486
USCON---CICTUS
Universidad de Sonora --- Centro de Investigaciones Cientificas y
Tecnologicas de la Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico
USDA . . . . . . . . . US Department of Agriculture
USDA/ARS . . . . USDA/Agricultural Research Service (Beltsville, MD and Tucson, AZ)
USEF . . . . . . . . . . Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer; USEF is of Tokyo, Japan (since 1986) USEFs organizational goal is to promote space
utilization and the industrialization of space.
USEPA . . . . . . . . US Environmental Protection Agency
USES . . . . . . . . . . Universal Source Encoder for Space (a NASA developed chipset)
USFS . . . . . . . . . . US Forest Service
USFWS . . . . . . . . US Fish and Wildlife Service
USGCRP . . . . . . US Global Change Research Program (since 1990). USGCRP sponsors global change research in a large number of institutions (over 300).
ISGIF . . . . . . . . . . United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (since 2003)
USGS . . . . . . . . . . United States Geological Survey (the science and technology agency of
the Department of the Interior, DOI; USGS was established in 1879).
The mission of USGS is to provide geologic, topographic, and hydrographic information to contribute to the management of the Nations
natural resources.
USML . . . . . . . . . US Microgravity Laboratory (Shuttle payload)
USMP . . . . . . . . . US Microgravity Payload (Shuttle payload)
USN . . . . . . . . . . . Universal Space Network. USN is a US service provider in space operations and GNS (Ground Network Services) providing global coverage.
USNO . . . . . . . . . United States Naval Observatory (Washington DC, established in
1830)
USO . . . . . . . . . . . Ultra Stable Clock (onboard reference)
USRA . . . . . . . . . Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, MD [a nonprofit
corporation organized in 1969 by NAS (National Academy of Sciences)
at the request of NASA; as of 1995 there are 78 member universities]
USS . . . . . . . . . . . Unique Support Structure (Shuttle)
USSR . . . . . . . . . . Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (former)
USSS . . . . . . . . . . University Space Systems Symposium (a forum for Japanese and US
universities to develop and extend collaborative projects involving the
design, fabrication, and operation of aerospace systems, USSS started
in 1998)
USU/SDL . . . . . . Utah State University / Space Dynamics Laboratory (Logan, UT, Bedford, MA, and Albuquerque, NM). SDL is a non---profit organization
owned by USU.
USWRP . . . . . . . . US Weather Research Program
UTA . . . . . . . . . . . University of Texas at Austin
UTA/CSR . . . . . . UTA/Center for Space Research (since 1981)
UTC . . . . . . . . . . . Universal Time Coordinated (since 1972)
UTIAS/SFL . . . . . University of Toronto, Institute for Aerospace studies/Space Flight
Laboratory, Toronto, Canada
UTIAS/MSTC . . University of Toronto, Institute for Aerospace studies / Microsatellite
Science and Technology Center, Toronto, Canada (since 2010, funding
was provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the
Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation) 5919)
UTJ . . . . . . . . . . . Ultra Triple Junction (solar cells)
UTM . . . . . . . . . . Universal Transverse Mercator (coordinate reference system for
large---scale maps)
UV . . . . . . . . . . . . Ultra Violet (spectral range from 0.01 --- 0.38 mm)
_____________________
5919) Robert E. Zee, Microsatellite Science and Technology Center: Canadas Center for Microspace Innovation,
Proceedings of ASTRO 2010, 15th CASI (Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute) Conference, Toronto,
Canada,
May
4---6,
2010,
URL:
ftp://casi:[email protected]/../Papers/052_Zee_ASTRO2010.pdf
3487
UVCS . . . . . . . . . Ultraviolet Coronal Spectrometer (a SAO instrument flown on the

SPARTAN---201 series)
UVPI . . . . . . . . . . Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (Shuttle experiment)
UVSTAR . . . . . . . Ultraviolet Spectrograph Telescope for Astronomical Research
(Shuttle payload)
UWB . . . . . . . . . . Ultra Wideband (involves multi---octave frequency coverage of a sensor such as a radar system for the purpose of ground penetration).
UWB radar systems use signals with a bandwidth >25% of the center
frequency.
V
V---2 . . . . . . . . . . . Vengeance---2 (Vergeltung---2) a German rocket during WW2. V---2
was a liquid fuel rocket with a mass of about 12900 kg. The V---2 attack
on London started in Sept. 1994. V---2 was preceded by a smaller V---1,
a pilotless pulse---jet propelled flying bomb of about 2200 kg mass at
launch.
VAFB . . . . . . . . . . Vandenberg Air Force Base, Vandenberg, CA
VAST . . . . . . . . . . Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (since 1975, Hanoi, Vietnam)
VCL . . . . . . . . . . . Vegetation Canopy Lidar Mission
VCO . . . . . . . . . . Voltage Controlled Oscillator
VCR . . . . . . . . . . . Video Cassette Recorder (also: Video Color Recorder)
VCS . . . . . . . . . . . Voice Command System (Shuttle)
VCSEL . . . . . . . . Vertical Cavity Surface---Emitting Laser---diode (type of semiconductor diode laser; the cavity is perpendicular to the wafer plane, thus the
optical beam is guided in the vertical direction)
VCSI . . . . . . . . . . Von Braun Center for Science Innovation (Huntsville, AL). A not--for---profit R&D (Research & Development) center.
VCXO . . . . . . . . . Voltage Controlled Crystal Oscillator (onboard clock)
VDA . . . . . . . . . . Vapor Deposited Aluminum (an insulation layer in spacecraft design)
VDA . . . . . . . . . . VHF Collection System Antenna (NOAA)
VDC . . . . . . . . . . Volt Direct Current
VENTEX . . . . . . Venting Experiment (campaign)
VERSIM . . . . . . . VLF/ELF Remote Sensing of Ionospheres and Magnetospheres.
VERSIM is an international group of scientists interested in studying
the behavior of the magnetosphere and ionosphere by means of ELF
(300 Hz --- 3 kHz) and VLF (3---30 kHz) radio waves. VERSIM was set
up by IAGA/URSI in 1975.
VFT---1 . . . . . . . . Visual Function Tester---1 (Shuttle experiment)
VGA . . . . . . . . . . Video Graphics Array
VH . . . . . . . . . . . . Vertical transmit --- Horizontal receive polarization
VHDL . . . . . . . . . VHSIC (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit) Hardware Description
Language
VHF . . . . . . . . . . . Very High Frequency (30 --- 300 MHz band)
VHS . . . . . . . . . . . Video Home System
VI . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vegetation Index
Viking . . . . . . . . . Swedish satellite mission for the study of the Earths magnetosphere,
K.33
VIR . . . . . . . . . . . Visible Infrared (spectrum)
VIS . . . . . . . . . . . . Visible (spectrum 0.4 --- 0.7 mm)
VISTA . . . . . . . . . Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (ESO, a 4 m
aperture telescope, at the Paranal Observatory in Chile, built by a consortium of the UK, since 2009)
VITA . . . . . . . . . . Volunteers in Technical Assistance (a humanitarian organization in Arlington, VA, USA, providing communication services on a global scale)
VITO . . . . . . . . . . Vlaamse instelling voor technologisch onderzoek (Flemish institute for
technological research), located in northern Belgium. One of its cen-
3488
viz. . . . . . . . . . . . .
VLBI . . . . . . . . . .
VLDS . . . . . . . . .
VLF . . . . . . . . . . .
VLS . . . . . . . . . . .
VLSI . . . . . . . . . .
VLT . . . . . . . . . . .
VLWIR . . . . . . . .
VMEbus . . . . . . .
VMOC . . . . . . . . .
VNIIEM . . . . . . .
VNIR . . . . . . . . . .
VOC . . . . . . . . . .
VCOS . . . . . . . . .
VoIP . . . . . . . . . . .
VORTEX . . . . . .
VORTEX . . . . . .
VOXEL . . . . . . . .
VPN . . . . . . . . . . .
VRA . . . . . . . . . .
VRAM . . . . . . . . .
VRTE . . . . . . . . .

ters is the image processing/archiving center of the VEGETATION instrument on SPOT.
Latin, a contraction of the term videlicet, to wit; an adverb ; as follows
[syn: namely, that is to say]
Very Long Baseline Interferometry (predominantly used in the radio
astronomy and geodesy community). VLBI is used for the determination of the angular position of interplanetary probes.
Very Large Data Store
Very Low Frequency (frequency band of 10 --- 30 kHz)
Veiculo Lancador de Satellites (Brazils launch vehicle). Note: The first
two VLS flights, in Nov. 1997 and Dec. 1998, were failures. On Aug. 22,
2003, a VLS rocket exploded on the launch pad as it was being prepared
for an upcoming launch.
Very Large Scale Integration (solid---state technology)
Very Large Telescope [of ESO (European Southern Observatory) in
Chile, consisting of four telescopes (each 8.2 m in diameter), the telescopes are separately mounted and idely spaced for resolutions of up to
2 marcsec (milliarcseconds) over a FOV of about 1 arcsec, interferometric applications of VLT]. Operations of VLT started in 2002. The
VLT is regarded the worlds most advanced optical instrument.
Very Long Wavelength Infrared (14---30 mm)
VersaModule Eurocard bus (ISO/IEC15776 standard, 1998). A high--performance bus (co---designed by Motorola, and based on Motorolas
1981 Versa---Bus standard) for constructing versatile industrial and
military computers, where multiple memory, peripheral, and even microprocessor cards could be plugged in to a passive rack or card
cage to facilitate custom system designs. Typical data transfer rate of
50 MByte/second (64 bits wide).
Virtual Mission Operation Center (a platform independent facility of
NASA/GSFC, support of distributed spacecraft command and control). VMOC is also a US intergovernmental initiative (including DoD)
to exploit IP (Internet Protocol) based systems in space. --- VMOC is a
software based platform to incubate, mature, and transition new and
relevant technologies and concepts of operations via continuous operational experimentation. The original VMOC concept began in 2000.
All---Russian Scientific and Research Institute of Electromechanics
(Moscow; S/C builder/integrator, Meteor series, Okean series, Resurs
series, GOMS, etc. also referred to as: NPP VNIIEM). Background:
the enterprise was funded in 1941, in 1944 it was named Science and
Research Institute #627 or NII---627. In 1953, NII---627 was renamed
to VNIIEM. In the early 1960s, VNIIEM began to develop meteorological spacecraft, using an innovative electromechanical stabilization system. --- In Nov. 1992, the Istra Branch of VNIIEM separated to become
an independent enterprise, NII of Electromechanics (NIIEM). Since
May 1998, VNIIEM reports to the Russian Space Agency (RKA).
Visible Near Infrared (spectral range 0.4 --- 1.3 mm)
Volatile Organic (carbon) Compounds
VLSI Chips---on---Silicon
Voice over IP (Internet Protocol)
Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornados Experiment (campaign)
Vortex Ring Transit Experiment (G---93R Shuttle payload on STS---88)
Volume Element
Virtual Private Network
VHF Realtime Antenna (NOAA)
Video RAM
Vented Tank Resupply Experiment (Shuttle payload)
3489
VSAT . . . . . . . . . . Very Small Aperture Terminal (small ground antenna for satellite communication)
VSC . . . . . . . . . . . Valencia Space Consortium, Valencia, Spain (VSC is the new home of
ESAs high power radio frequency laboratory. VSC is a non---profit organization set up in 2010 by Valencias two universities, its regional government and municipality)
VSCMG . . . . . . . Variable Speed Control Moment Gyroscope
VSE . . . . . . . . . . . Vision for Space Exploration (this represents the US civilian space effort, outlined by President George W. Bush in January 2004). VSE foresees placing permanent bases on the Earths Moon and eventually on
Mars. --- A key element of NASAs VSE is the Manned Exploration Vehicle, called Orion (named after the constellation Orion), an advanced
crew capsule design utilizing state---of---the---art technology that will
succeed the Space Shuttle in transporting a new generation of human
explorers to and from the International Space Station, the Moon, and
eventually to Mars and beyond. On Aug. 31, 2006, NASA announced
that the Lockheed Martin team was selected to design and build Orion.
Note: Orion was initially known as CEW (Crew Exploration Vehicle)
and renamed by NASA on August 22, 2006. 5920)
The Orion crew vehicle will be the primary payload of the Ares I rocket
designed to reach LEO for rendezvous with the International Space
Station (ISS) --- or an Earth Departure Stage and lunar lander. The first
Orion launch with humans onboard is planned for no later than 2014.
VSOP . . . . . . . . . . VLBI Space Observatory Program (of ISAS, Japan). VSOP---1 is a satellite launched Feb. 12, 1997 as MUSES---B. After launch the spacecraft was renamed to HALCA (Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy). As of 2003, a next generation S/C is
planned, called VSOP---2.
VSWR . . . . . . . . . Voltage Standing Wave Ratio
VT . . . . . . . . . . . . Virtual Terminal
VTT . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Research Center of Finland, (Espoo, Helsinki, Finland).
VTT is a contract research organization.
VUV . . . . . . . . . . Vacuum Ultraviolet (radiation). Refers to radiation in the spectral
range of 10 < l < 200 nm. Any work in this region requires evacuated
equipment.
VV . . . . . . . . . . . . Vertical transmit --- Vertical receive polarization
VZLU A. S. . . . . . Aeronautical Research and Test Institute (a non---profit research organization located in Prague Letany, Czech Republic)
W
W3C . . . . . . . . . . . World---Wide Web Consortium (since 1994)
WAAS . . . . . . . . . Wide Area Augmentation System (FAA). WAAS is the US space--based augmentation system that provides DGPS service over a very
large geographical area (USA) by using a satellite broadcast of separate
corrections for GPS clock, orbital data and ionospheric delay.
WAC . . . . . . . . . . Wide---Angle Camera
WADGPS . . . . . . Wide Area Differential GPS
WAIS . . . . . . . . . . West Antarctic Ice Sheet Project (campaign)
WARC . . . . . . . . . World Administrative Radio Conference (of ITU)
WATS . . . . . . . . . Water---Vapor and Wind in Atmospheric Troposphere and Stratosphere (a proposed ESA mission as of 2001)
WAU . . . . . . . . . . Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands
WBVTR . . . . . . . Wideband Video Tape Recorder (on Landsat---1 to ---3 series)
WBP . . . . . . . . . . Water---Based Propulsion (see Glossary)
WCASP . . . . . . . . World Climate Applications and Services Programme (WMO)
WCC . . . . . . . . . . World Climate Conference (WCC---1 in 1979, WCC---2 in 1990)
_____________________
5920) http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/exploration/mmb/orion_announcement.html
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W---CDMA . . . . . Wideband CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)

WCDMP . . . . . . . World Climate Data and Monitoring Programme (WMO)
WCIRP . . . . . . . . World Climate Impact Assessment and Response Strategies Programme (UNEP)
WCP . . . . . . . . . . World Climate Program (WMO is the lead agency of WCP)
WCRP . . . . . . . . . World Climate Research Programme (since 1980, jointly sponsored by
WMO, ICSU, and IOC)
WDC . . . . . . . . . . World Data Center
WDCGG . . . . . . . World Data Center for Greenhouse Gases (of WMO)
WDM . . . . . . . . . . Wavelength Division Multiplexing (optical high---rate transmission
technology)
WDMA . . . . . . . . Wavelength Division Multiple Access (scheme)
WEFAX . . . . . . . . Weather Facsimile (NOAA broadcast service of GOES S/C; transmission of environmental data in WEFAX format to ground stations)
WENPEX . . . . . . Western North Pacific Cloud---Radiation Experiment (campaign)
WEOS . . . . . . . . . Whale Ecology Observation Satellite (microsatellite of Japan)
WESTEX . . . . . . West Coast Ship Tracks Experiment (campaign)
WEU . . . . . . . . . . Western European Union (with HQ in Brussels; WEU has 10 member
states: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and UK)
WFE . . . . . . . . . . Wave Front Error (optics systems)
WFF . . . . . . . . . . . Wallops Flight Facility (of NASA/GSFC, founded in 1945 by NACA)
WFOV . . . . . . . . . Wide Field of View (of a sensor)
WGS84 . . . . . . . . World Geodetic System --- 1984 (DoD reference ellipsoid for GPS, etc.
GPS positions are computed in WGS84, the system has been adopted
internationally as the single worldwide datum for marine navigation)
WHRC . . . . . . . . . Woods Hole Research Center (Woods Hole, MA, USA)
WHOI . . . . . . . . . Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, (Woods Hole, MA, USA --- a
marine science non---profit research facility founded in 1930)
Wi---Fi . . . . . . . . . Wi---Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is a trademark of the Wi---Fi Alliance for certified products based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. This certification
warrants interoperability between different wireless devices. A Wi---Fi
enabled device such as a PC, game console, mobile phone, MP3 player
or PDA can connect to the Internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the Internet. The coverage of one or more interconnected access points is referred to as a hotspot. The Wi---Fi technology offers the capability of setting up mesh networks.
WiMAX . . . . . . . . Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (a wireless broadband technology based on the IEEE 802.16 standard). WiMAX can operate on a point---to---point basis with about 30 Mbit/s over distances of
30 km. The future mobile WiMAX offers the full mobility of cellular
networks at true broadband speeds.
WIND . . . . . . . . . NASA/GSFC Solar---Terrestrial Mission (K.34)
WINDEX . . . . . . Window Experiment (Shuttle)
WINDOS . . . . . . Western Indian Ocean Study (campaign)
WISE . . . . . . . . . . Wide---field Infrared Survey Explorer (a NASA MIDEX astronomy
mission, all---sky survey in wavelengths at: 3.3, 4.7, 12 and 23 m)
WISP . . . . . . . . . . Winter Icing and Storms Project (campaign)
WITTEX . . . . . . . Water Inclination Topography and Technology Experiment (JHU/
APL)
WL . . . . . . . . . . . . Werkstofflabor (materials laboratory on Shuttle D2 mission)
WLAN . . . . . . . . . Wireless Local Area Network (RF bands are used)
WLC . . . . . . . . . . White Light Coronograph (instrument flown on SPARTAN---201 series)
WMO . . . . . . . . . . World Meteorological Organization (an agency of the United Nations,
located in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1951). Major science and technical programs of WMO are: WWW (World Weather Watch), WCRP
WMSCC . . . . . . .
WOCE . . . . . . . . .
WORF . . . . . . . . .
WPLTN . . . . . . . .
WPAN . . . . . . . . .
WPT . . . . . . . . . . .
w.r.t . . . . . . . . . . .
WRAS . . . . . . . . .
WRC . . . . . . . . . .
WRMC . . . . . . . .
WRS . . . . . . . . . .
WSAN . . . . . . . . .
WSN . . . . . . . . . .
WSF . . . . . . . . . . .
WSMC . . . . . . . . .
WSN . . . . . . . . . .
WSOA . . . . . . . . .
WSTF . . . . . . . . .
WUPPE . . . . . . . .
WV . . . . . . . . . . .
WW---II . . . . . . . .
WWLAN . . . . . . .
WWLLN . . . . . . .
WWRP . . . . . . . .
WWW . . . . . . . . .
WWW . . . . . . . . .
3491
(World Climate Research Program), GAW (Global Atmosphere

Watch), HWRP (Hydrology and Water Resources Program), GCOS
(Global Climate Observing System), GOOS (Global Ocean Observing
System). As of May 2002, the WMO membership is: 185 States and Territories.
World Meteorological Service Computing Center
World Ocean Circulation Experiment (Program)
Window Observational Research Facility (of ISS delivered by
STS---114)
Western Pacific Laser Tracking Network (a ground network for SLR in
the Pacific region) WPTLN coordinates the activities of SLR stations in
China, Japan, Australia, and Eastern Russia.
Wireless Personal Area Network
Wireless Power Transmission. WPT consists of converting dc power
into microwave power at the transmitting end, forming the microwave
power into electronically steerable microwave beams, and capturing
the microwave power and converting it back into dc power at the receiving end.
with respect to
Wideband Radiator Antenna Subsystem (Galileo navigation antenna,
Europe)
World Radiocommunication Conference (of ITU, Geneva, Switzerland, see also WARC)
World Radiation Monitoring Center (Zrich, Switzerland)
Worldwide Reference System (a global indexing scheme of the Landsat
program which is based on nominal scene centers defined by path and
row coordinates; the Aqua mission adopted the same scheme)
Wireless Sensor and Actor Network (refers to a group of sensors and
actors linked by wireless medium to perform distributed sensing and actuation tasks)
Wireless Sensor Network
Wake Shield Facility (Shuttle payload, a retrievable platform)
Western Space and Missile Center (of USAF at Vandenberg, CA)
Wireless Sensor Network [i.e. a network technology, where all nodes
(either moving or stationary) can both provide and relay data]. WSN is
a new technology for space exploration that has yet to prove the numerous advantages one can expect: low cost, accurate measurements over a
large surface or volume, short setup time of a mission, high reliability
through redundancy.
Wide Swath Ocean Altimeter (a concept design of NASA/JPL for
wide---swath altimetry observations which was cancelled in the spring of
2005 due to budget problems)
White Sands Test Facility (White Sands, NM), a facility of NASA/JSC
Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo Polarimeter Experiment (part of ASTRO---1 payload on Shuttle)
Water Vapor (in the 5.7 --- 7.1 mm water vapor absorption band)
World War II (1939---1945)
Wireless Wide Area LAN
World---Wide Lightning Location Network (a network composed of
about twenty sensors at VLF which are distributed all around the
world). WWLLN is operated by LF---EM in New Zealand partnering
with the University of Washington in Seattle. It is a network of lightning
location sensors at VLF (330 kHz)
World Weather Research Program (of WMO)
World Weather Watch (WMO Program)
World Wide Web (a wide---area client/server architecture for exchanging hypermedia across the Internet network). WWW offers platform
3492

independence and the use of different communication protocols, such
as: FTP (File Transfer Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol),
and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). The WWW was developed/demonstrated at CERN (Tim Berners---Lee, et. al.), it started its
life in 1989. The Internet with its communication protocols is part of the
overall WWW architecture.
X
XeCl . . . . . . . . . . . Xenon Chloride laser
XEUS . . . . . . . . . X---ray Evolving Universe Spectroscopy (an ESA mission in planning as
of 2002 --- a potential follow---on mission to XMM---Newton). The
XEUS mission concept uses ISS to construct the large mirror satellite
(X---ray mirror of 10 m diameter) in orbit.
XIPS . . . . . . . . . . Xenon Ion Propulsion System (on platform HS702 of Hughes Space
and Communications Company, Los Angeles, CA)
XML . . . . . . . . . . eXtensible Markup Language (a document markup language for the
creation of hierarchical information structures)
XMM . . . . . . . . . . X---Ray Multi---Mirror Mission (of ESA), launch Dec. 10, 1999. Note:
XMM was officially renamed to XMM---Newton in Feb. 2000
XNAV . . . . . . . . . X---ray Source---based Navigation for Autonomous Position Determination (a US DARPA---led technology program and initiative with
NASA cooperation). Provision of a future GPS---free, autonomous
spacecraft navigation capability
XPD . . . . . . . . . . . X---ray Photoelectron Detection
XPOD . . . . . . . . . Experimental Push Out Deployer --- a CubeSat/nanosat deployment
system developed by UTIAS/SFL (University of Toronto, Institute for
Aerospace studies/Space Flight Laboratory), Toronto, Canada
XRD . . . . . . . . . . X---Ray Diffraction
XRF . . . . . . . . . . . X---Ray Fluorescence (spectrometry)
XRT . . . . . . . . . . . X---Ray Telescope (Spacelab---2 sensor, energy detection 2.5---25 keV)
XSCC . . . . . . . . . . Xian Satellite Control Center, in the central Shaanxi Province of China
XSLC . . . . . . . . . . Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in the southwestern Sichuan Province of China
XSS . . . . . . . . . . . Experimental Spacecraft System (US AFRL microsatellite demonstration series). In conjunction with the Air Force Space Command, Air
Force Space and Missiles Systems Center, the Naval Research Laboratory, and industry, missions are underway to actively evaluate future applications of microsatellite technologies to include: inspection; rendezvous and docking; repositioning; and techniques for close---in proximity
maneuvering around on orbit assets.
XTCE . . . . . . . . . XML Telemetric & Command Exchange (XTCE is an information
model for spacecraft telemetry and commanding data). Using XTCE
the format and content of a space systems command and telemetry links
can be readily exchanged between spacecraft operators and manufacturers.
XTED . . . . . . . . . eXtended Transducer Electronic Datasheet. For instance, for SPA
(Space Plug---and---play Avionics) the datasheet is XTED.
XTI . . . . . . . . . . . Cross---Track Interferometry
XTR . . . . . . . . . . . Transmitter
XUV . . . . . . . . . . Extreme Ultra Violet (same as EUV, i.e. 1 --- 130 nm spectral range)
Y
YAG . . . . . . . . . . . Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (a type of solid---state crystal laser)
YBCO . . . . . . . . . Yttrium---Barium---Copper---Oxide (YBa2Cu3O7), also simply referred to as: YBaCuO (a semiconducting detector material used in
broadband microbolometer applications in the FIR spectral range).
YBCO has also a great potential in the field of magnet technology (superconducting magnets)
3493
YBLCO . . . . . . . . Yttrium---Barium---Lanthanum---Copper---Oxide
YES . . . . . . . . . . . Young Engineers Satellite (ESA student program with payload building experience, YES1 launch Oct. 30, 1997, YES2 in preparation with a
projected launch on a Russian Foton---M3 spacecraft in 2006)
YLF . . . . . . . . . . . Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (a laser type)
YUZHNOYE . . . State Design Office Yuzhnoye, Dniepropetrosvk, Ukraine (since
1954), builders of two launch vehicles: Zenit and Cyclone; builders of
OKEAN series satellites. Also developers of Intercosmos spacecraft;
of the 25 S/C in the Intercosmos program, 22 were built by Yuzhnoye.
Z
ZAMG . . . . . . . . . Zentralanstalt fr Meteorologie und Geodynamik, with HQs at Vienna, Austria, since 1851 (Austrian Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics)
ZARM . . . . . . . . . Zentrum fr angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie und Mikrogravitation (Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity --- since
1985), an institute of the University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Z/I Imaging . . . . . Zeiss/Intergraph Imaging GmbH, Oberkochen, Germany (a joint venture of Carl Zeiss and Intergraph in the field of airborne geo---information systems like RMK, DMC, GIS solutions, photogrammetry, Earth
imaging tools, etc.). As of Oct. 2002, Intergraph Corporation of Huntsville, ALA, acquired ownership of Z/I Imaging.
ZTD . . . . . . . . . . . Zenith Total Delay [a GPS data estimate used for IWV (Integrated Water Vapor) determination]
ZUP . . . . . . . . . . . Flight Control Center, Kaliningrad, Russia (TT&C function for MIR station
along with RKK Energia)

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Appendix B

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Units of Measure and some Physical Constants

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

pC . . . . . . . . . . . . picocoulomb (10 ---12 coulomb)

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

tesla (T) . . . . . . . . SI unit of magnetic flux density. 1 T = 1 Wb/m2 which corresponds to

General conventions of unit representations:

Symbols for the seven basic units in the SI system

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Commonly used prefixes of SI multiples and sub---multiples

Unit symbol (derivation)

Derived units commonly used in science and engineering 5902)

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

ADAM . . . . . . . . Advanced Data Acquisition and Messaging System [ a DCS (Data

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

APRSAF---13 took place in Dec. 2006 in Jakarta, Indonesia

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

ARIES . . . . . . . . . Australian Resource Information and Environment Satellite

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

of Telespazio and Alenia Space) of Milano announced the creation of

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Baroreflex (Shuttle payload on D2 mission)

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

BLAST . . . . . . . . Battlefield Laser Acquisition Sensor Test (Shuttle experiment)

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

BSRN . . . . . . . . . Baseline Surface Radiation Network (WCRP/GEWEX)

Coarse Acquisition (a GPS and GLONASS code)

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

CCRS . . . . . . . . . . Canada Center for Remote Sensing (Ottawa, Ontario; established in

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

. . . . . . . Carbon---fiber reinforced Silicon Carbide, a product of ECM Inge-

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

CIR . . . . . . . . . . . Color Infrared (video images)

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

COTS . . . . . . . . . . Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (NASA program)

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

CSR . . . . . . . . . . . Centro de Sensores Remote (Italy)

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

DOR . . . . . . . . . delta---Differential One---way Ranging. he DOR technique provides

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations

Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations