| AC | Alternating Current |
| Actr | Actuator |
| Aft / AFT | Rear |
| APU | Auxiliary Power Unit |
| ASA / ASA 4 | Aerosurface Amplifier |
| ATVC | Automatic Thrust Vector Control |
| BF | Body Flap |
| BFS | Backup Flight Software |
| BL | Bond Line |
| CSS | Control Stick Steering |
| DAP | Digital Auto Pilot |
| DNMODE | Down mode |
| ECLSS | Environmental Control and Life Support System |
| EI | Entry Interface |
| EPDC | Electrical Power Distribution and Control |
| FCS | Flight Control System |
| FES | Flash Evaporator System |
| F/min | degrees Fahrenheit per minute |
| fps | Feet Per Second |
| fps2 | Feet Per Second Squared |
| Fus | Fuselage |
| GMT | Greenwich Mean Time |
| H | Altitude |
| H2O | Water |
| Hyd | Hydraulic |
| Hz | Hertz |
| IMU | Inertial Measurement System |
| Inbd / INBD | Inboard |
| Iso | Isolation |
| KSC | Kennedy Space Center |
| L | Left |
| L2L | Left firing RCS jet |
| L3L | Left firing RCS jet |
| LH | Left Hand |
| LIB | Left Inboard |
| LIE | Left Inboard Elevon |
| LMG | Left Main (landing) Gear |
| Ln / LN | Line |
| LOB | Left Outboard |
| LOE | Left Outboard Elevon |
| Longn | Longeron |
| LOS | Loss of Signal |
| L/R | Left/Right |
| LT | Left |
| Mach | Velocity (Mach 24 is number x speed of sound) |
| MER | Mission Evaluation Room |
| M-FUS | Mid Fuselage |
| MLG | Main Landing Gear |
| MPS | Main Propulsion System |
| ms | millisecond(s) |
| Msg | Message |
| Nom | Nominal (normal) |
| ODRC | Orbiter Data Reduction Center |
| OI | Orbiter Instrumentation |
| OMS | Orbital Maneuvering System |
| OPS 3 | Operations software mode for entry |
| OSH | Off Scale High |
| OSL | Off Scale Low |
| Outbd | Outboard |
| P | Pressure |
| PASS | Primary Avionics Software System |
| PRSD | Power Reactant and Storage Distribution |
| psf | Pounds per Square Foot |
| psia | Pounds per Square Inch Absolute |
| PVT | Pressure, Volume and Temperature |
| P/Y | Pitch/Yaw |
| QBAR | Dynamic Air Pressure |
| R1R | Right Firing RCS jet |
| R2R | Right firing RCS jet |
| R3R | Right Firing RCS jet |
| R4R | Right Firing RCS jet |
| RCS | Reaction Control System |
| Ref / REF | Reference |
| Ret | Return |
| RHC | Rotational Hand Controller |
| RIB | Right Inboard |
| ROB | Right Outboard |
| RPC | Remote Power Controller |
| RSB | Rudder Speed Brake |
| R/T | Rock/Tilt |
| secs | Seconds |
| SM1 | Systems Management |
| SRB | Solid Rocket Booster |
| SSME | Space Shuttle Main Engine |
| STS | Space Transportation System |
| Sw | Switch |
| Sys | System |
| TDRS (E/W) | Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (East/West) |
| Temp | Temperature |
| TIG | Time of Ignition |
| TK | Tank |
| Unlk | Unlock |
| Uplk / UpLK | Uplock |
| Vlv(s) | Valve(s) |
| WSB | Water Spray Boiler |
| x1215 | Structural Location Along Fuselage |