This highly selective list includes designations of flight hardware subsystems and components as well as designations of nonflight hardware used in NASA's aeronautics and space research. Many of these terms are components of the projects listed in Parts I-V of the text; others fall outside the project names. Not listed are subsystems of most launch vehicles.
ACS
Attitude control system
AD
Air density satellite
(Explorer)
AE
Atmosphere Explorer satellite
AEROSAT
Joint FAA-ESRO Aeronautical
Satellite
AIMP
Anchored Interplanetary Monitoring
Platform (Explorer)
ALFMED
Apollo light-flash moving-emulsion
detection
ALSEP
Apollo lunar surface experiments
package
AM
Airlock module (Skylab spacecraft
component)
AMPS
Atmospheric, Magnetospheric
Plasma-in-Space laboratory (Space Shuttle payload)
AMU
Astronaut maneuvering unit
Anik
Canadian Telesat domestic
telecommunications satellite
ANNA
Army-Navy-NASA geodetic
satellite
APS
Ascent propulsion system (Apollo LM
component); also auxiliary propulsion system
APT
Automatic picture transmission
ASTP
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
ATDA
Augmented target docking
adapter
ATM
Apollo Telescope Mount (Skylab
spacecraft component)
AVCS
Advanced vidicon camera system
.
BBIVA,BBVC
Black Brant IVA, Black Brant VC
sounding rockets
BE
Beacon Explorer satellite
BIC
Barium-ion-cloud experiment
BIOCORE
Apollo 17 medical experiment (using
mice)
BIOS
Biological Investigation of Space
(suborbital flight experiment); sometimes also used as short
name for Biosatellite
.
CAS
Cooperative Applications Satellite
(CAS-A was Eole
CEPE
Cylindrical Electrostatic Probe
Experiment (orbital experiment attached to Delta second
stage)
CM
Command module (Apollo
spacecraft)
Cos
ESRO cosmic ray satellite
CRISP
Cosmic Ray Ionization Program
CSM
Command and service module (Apollo
spacecraft, combination of CM and SM)
CTS
Communications Technology
Satellite
.
DAD
Dual Air Density Explorer
satellite
DFBW
Digital fly-by-wire program
DME
Direct Measurement Explorer
satellite
DPS
Descent propulsion system (Apollo LM
component)
DSN
Deep Space Network
.
EASEP
Early Apollo scientific experiments
package (Apollo 11
ECS
Environmental control system
EGO
Eccentric (orbiting) Geophysical
Observatory
EOPAP
Earth and ocean physics applications
program
ERAP
Earth resources aircraft
program
EREP
Earth resources experiment package
(Skylab experiment)
EVA
Extravehicular activity
EXAMETNET
Experimental InterAmerican
Meteorological Rocket Network)
EXOSAT
ESRO high-energy astronomy satellite,
for x-ray astronomy
.
FIRE
Flight Investigation of the Reentry
Environment (reentry heating project)
.
GATV
Gemini Agena Target Vehicle
GEOS
Geodetic Satellite (Explorer); also
its successor, Geodynamic Experimental Ocean Satellite, and
ESRO's Geostationary Scientific Satellite
GOES
Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite
GRS
German Research Satellite (GRS-1 was
Azur; GRS-2-A, Aeros)
GTS
Geostationary Technology
Satellite
.
HAPPE
High Altitude Particle Program
Experiment
Hawkeye
Scientific satellite (Explorer;
follow-on to Injun series)
HCMM
Heat Capacity Mapping Mission
Explorer
HET
Health/education telecommunications
experiment (on ATS 6)
HL-10
Lifting-body research vehicle
.
IE
Ionosphere Explorer
IME
Interplanetary meteoroid
experiment
IMP
Interplanetary Monitoring Platform
(Explorer)
Injun
Scientific satellite
(Explorer)
IRLS
Interrogation, recording, and
location system
ISEE
International Sun-Earth
Explorer
IU
Instrument unit
IUE
International Ultraviolet
Explorer
IUS
Interim upper stage for Space Shuttle
(called orbit-to-orbit stage, or OOS, by Air Force; interim
version of Space Tug)
.
Kiwi
Ground-test reactor for nuclear
propulsion research
.
LC
Launch complex
LDEF
Long-Duration Exposure Facility
(satellite)
LES
Launch escape system
LEM
Lunar Excursion module (renamed
LM)
LLRV
Lunar landing research vehicle
LLTV
Lunar landing training vehicle
LM
Lunar module (Apollo lunar-landing
spacecraft)
LOI
Lunar Orbit insertion
LOR
Lunar orbit rendezvous (Apollo
lunar-landing mode)
LRV
Lunar roving vehicle (Rover)
LST
Large Space Telescope
(satellite)
Luster, Project
Sounding Rocket experiment to capture
interplanetary particles
.
M2-F2
Lifting-body research vehicle
MAROTS
ESRO Maritime Orbital Test
Satellite
MCC
Midcourse correction; also Mission
Control Center
MDA
Multiple docking adapter (Skylab
spacecraft component)
MDS
Meteoroid Detection Satellite
(Explorer)
MESA
Modularized equipment stowage
assembly (Apollo LM component)
METEOSAT
ESRO geostationary meteorological
satellite
MET; METS
Mobile equipment transporter;
modularized equipment transport system (for Apollo lunar
landing missions)
MSFN
Manned Space Flight Network
MTS
Meteoroid Technology Satellite
.
NERV
Nuclear Emulsion Recovery Vehicle
(high-altitude radiation experiment)
NERVA
Nuclear engine for rocket vehicle
application
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration meteorological satellite (successor to ESSA
satellites)
NOMSS
National Operational Meteorological
Satellite System
.
OOS
Orbit-to-orbit stage (see IUS)
OSCAR
Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur
Radio
OTS
ESRO Orbital Test Satellite
OWL
Rice University scientific satellite
(Explorer)
OWN
Orbital Workshop (Skylab space
station)
.
PAET
Planetary Atmosphere Experiment Test
(suborbital flight experiment)
Phoebus
Ground-test reactor for nuclear
propulsion
PLACE
Position location and
communications-experiment (on ATS 6)
PLSS
Portable life support system
POGO
Polar Orbiting Geophysical
Observatory
Prometheus
Sounding rocket for lightning
research
PS
Payload shroud
.
QUESTOL
Quiet, experimental, short takeoff
and landing aircraft
.
RAE
Radio Astronomy Explorer
RAM
Research and Applications Module
(Spacelab forerunner)
RAM, Project
Radio attenuation measurement
(reentry communications blackout research)
RAM C-I, etc.
Suborbital spacecraft in Project
RAM
RBV
Return-beam-vidicon camera
RCS
Reaction control system
RM
Radiation/Meteoroid satellite
RMU
Remote maneuvering unit
Rover, Project
NASA-AEC research and development
program of nuclear reactor propulsion for rockets
RPRV
Remotely piloted research
vehicle
RTG
Radioisotope thermoelectric generator
(spacecraft power system)
.
S-I
Saturn I booster first stage
S-IB
Saturn IB booster first stage
S-IC
Saturn V booster first stage
S-II
Saturn V second stage
S-IV
Saturn I second stage
S-IVB
Saturn IB second stage; Saturn V
third stage
SAS
Small Astronomy satellite (Explorer);
also solar array system (Skylab Orbital Workshop
component)
Scanner, Project
Horizon definition experiment
(sounding rocket)
Scramjet
Supersonic combustion ramjet
engine
SCS
Stabilization and control
system
SE
Solar Explorer satellite
SERT
Space Electric Rocket Test (SERT 1
was suborbital; SERT 2 was orbited)
SEVA
Surface extravehicular activity
(lunar exploration); also standup extravehicular
activity
SHAPE
Supersonic High Altitude Parachute
Experiment
SIM
Scientific instrument module (Apollo
SM component)
SITE
Satellite instructional television
experiment (on ATS 6)
SLA
Spacecraft-lunar module adapter; also
spacecraft launch vehicle adapter
SM
Service module (Apollo spacecraft
component)
SNAP
Systems for nuclear auxiliary power
(nuclear-electric spacecraft power supply)
SPAN
Solar Particle Alert Network
SPANDAR
Space and range radar
SPED
Supersonic Planetary Entry
Decelerator (suborbital flight test)
SPS
Service propulsion system (Apollo SM
component)
SRB
Solid (fueled) rocket booster for
Space Shuttle)
SRM
Solid (fueled) rocket motor
SSME
Space Shuttle main engine
SSS
Small Scientific Satellite
(Explorer)
SST
Supersonic transport aircraft
STA
Shuttle training aircraft
STADAN
Space Tracking and Data Acquisition
Network (see also STDN)
STDN
Spacecraft Tracking and Data Network
(formerly STADAN)
STOL
Short takeoff and landing
aircraft
STS
Space transportation system
.
TETR
Test and Training Satellite (MSFN
training satellite; see also TTS)
TLI
Translunar injection (insertion into
trajectory for the moon)
TOPS
Thermoelectric outer planets
spacecraft
Topsi
Topside sounder satellite
TTS
Test and Training Satellite (MSFN
training satellite; see also TETR)
.
V/STOL
Vertical or short takeoff and landing
aircraft
VTOL
Vertical takeoff and landing
aircraft
.
X-15
High-altitude, high-speed,
experimental rocket research aircraft
X-24
Lifting-body research vehicle
XB-70
Experimental supersonic
aircraft