Glossary

C

CAN Cooperative Agreement Notice

canard An aircraft or aircraft configuration having its horizontal stabilizing and control surfaces in front of the wing or wings

CARA Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica (NSF)

carbon-carbon In one application, an improved form of disk brakes featuring carbon rotors and carbon stators in place of the beryllium formerly used

CAS Computational AeroSciences

Cassini A Saturn orbiter/Titan probe

Category I An aircraft approach procedure that provides for approach to a height above touchdown of no less than 200 feet and with runway visual range of no less than 1,800 feet

Category II An aircraft approach procedure with a height no less than 100 feet and visual range no less than 1,200 feet

Category III An aircraft approach procedure involving no minimal decision height and three different minimal visual ranges-at least 700 feet for IIIA, 150 feet for IIIB, and no minimum visual range for IIIC

CD-ROM Compact Disk-Read Only Memory

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

CFC Chlorofluorocarbon

CGRO Compton Gamma Ray Observatory

CIS Commonwealth of Independent States, a grouping of independent states formerly part of the Soviet Union

cm centimeter

CMB Cosmic Microwave Background (Anistrophy)

CNES Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales-the French space agency

COBE Cosmic Background Explorer

Comsat Communications Satellite Corporation

COPUOS Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (United Nations)

corona The outer atmosphere of the Sun, extending about a million miles above the surface

cosmic rays Not forms of energy, such as x-rays or gamma rays, but particles of matter

Cospas Russian acronym meaning Space System for Search of Vessels in Distress

CRISTA-SPAS Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite

CRRES Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite

CSA Canadian Space Agency

cryogenic Very low in temperature

CTAS Center-TRACON Automation System

C3I Command, control, communications, and intelligence (DoD)