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Acronyms And Abbreviations

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science
AAS American Aeronautical Society
AC attitude control
ACS Attitude Control System
ACT Applied Coherent Technology
ADC analog-to-digital converter
ADCS Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem
AE attitude estimate
AFTLV auxiliary fuel tank latch valve
AGC automatic gain control
AGI Analytical Graphics Inc.
AGU American Geophysical Union
AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
ALAS advanced liquid axial stage
AM Atmosphere and Magnetosphere Group
AMMOS Advanced Multi-mission Operating System
AMNH American Museum of Natural History
AO Asia Oceania Geosciences Society
AOS acquisition of signal
API application programmers interface
ApID application ID
APL Applied Physics Laboratory
APX alpha, proton, X-ray
ASC Astrodynamics Specialist Conference
ASCE Aerospace Specialist Conference and Exhibit
ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange
ASI Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (Italian Space Agency)
ASIC application specific integrated circuit
ASME Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
ASME Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
AST Autonomous Star Tracker
ASTM American Standards for Testing Materials
AT auxilary tank
ATD Advanced Technology Demonstration
ATDF auxiliary tracking data file
ATP Acceptance Test Procedure
AU Astronomical Unit
AWG American wire gauge
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BB breadboard
BC bus controller (1553)
BCU blockhouse control unit
BER Bit Error Rate
B-frame body frame
BGO bismuth germanate
BISD Business and Information Services Department
BIU bus interface unit
BM bus monitor
BNL Brookhaven National Laboratories
BOA beginning of allocation
BOL beginning of life
BOM bill of materials
BOT beginning of track
BSP board support package
BTE bench test equipment
BVR block V receiver
BWG beam-waveguide
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C&DH command and data handling
CA closest approach
CAD/CAM computer-aided-design/computer-aided-manufacture
CAS canned activity sequence
CASE Carnegie Academy for Science Education
CBE current best estimate
CCB change control board
CCD critical command decoder
CCD charged-coupled device
CCE Contamination Control Engineer
CCGA Ceramic Column Grid Array
CCGA ceramic column grid array
CCP Contamination Control Plan
CCSDS Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems
CCSSE Challenger Center for Space Science Education
CDF common data format
CDR Critical Design Review
CE Contamination Experiment
CER cost estimating relationship
CERES Center for Educational Resources
CERT Computer Emergency Response Team
CES Component Environmental Specification
CFD constant fraction discriminator
CFDP CCSDS file delivery protocol
CFE Customer Furnished Equipment
CG center of gravity
CGA column grid array
CGI common gateway interface
CIW Carnegie Institution of Washington
CK camera kernel (SPICE)
CLCW command link control word
CLTU command link transfer unit
CLTU command link transmssion unit
CM configuration management
CMC ceramic matrix composite
CMDIF command interface
CMX Cerium oxide doped borosilicate glass
COB chip on board
CoDR Conceptual Design Review
Co-I Co-Investigator
COI Composite Optics, Inc.
COM cost of money
CONTOUR COmet Nucleus TOUR
COP Command Operation Procedure
CORBA common object request broker architecture
CORE Central Operation of Resources for Educators
COSPAR Committee on Space Research
CoTR contract technical representative
COTS commercial-off-the-shelf
CP center of pressure
cPCI Compact PCI
CPFF cost-plus-fixed-fee
CPIF cost-plus-incentive-fee
CPM critical path method
CPP Cleaning Process Procedure
CPU Central Processing Unit
CPV common-pressure vessel
CR Confirmation Review
CSC computer software component
CSCI computer software configuration item
CSR Concept Study Report
CTE coefficient of thermal expansion
CTT compatibility test trailer
CUC CCSDS Unsegmented Time Code
CVCM collected volatile condensable materials
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DAC digital to analog converter
DC Direct Current
DC/DC direct current to direct current (conversion)
DCMC Defense Contract Management Command
DCN drawing change notices
DDS Delta DeSpin
DEI Data Exchange Infrastructure (NAVY system)
DIP dual in-line package
DISE DPU interface selection electronics
DMA direct memory access
DMR Detailed Mission Requirements
DOD depth of discharge
DOSFS DOS file system
DPCM delta pulse code modulation
DPCM differential pixel code modulation
DPS Division of Planetary Sciences (AAS)
DPU Data Processing Unit (Instrument)
DSAD Digital Solar Attitude Detector
DSI Decom Systems Inc.
DSM Deep Space Maneuver
DSMS Deep Space Mission Service
DSN Deep Space Network
DSS digital Sun sensor
DTM Department of Terrestrial Magnetism
DTO detailed test objectives
DWG Data Working Group
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E/PO Education and Public Outreach
E/q energy/charge
ECL emitter coupled logic
ECR Engineering Change Requests
EDAC error detection and correction
EDF engineering, design, and fabrication
EDM electrical discharge machining
EDR Engineering Design Review
EDU engineering development unit
EEPROM electrically erasable programmable read only memory
EGCS Experimental GNU Compiler System
EGSE electrical ground support equipment
EGU European Geosciences Union
EK events kernel
ELV Expendable Launch Vehicle
ELVS Expendable Launch Vehicle Services
EM Engineering Model
EMC electro-magnetic compatibility
EMI/RFI electromagnetic interference/radio frequency interference
EOA end of allocation
EOL end of life
EOM end of mission
EOT end of track
EPL electrical parts list
EPPS Energetic Particle and Plasma Spectrometer (Instrument)
EPS Energetic Particle Spectrometer (sensor)
EPU Event Processing Unit
ERCN Educators' Resource Center Network
ERT Earth Received Time
ESA European Space Agency
ESA electrostatic analyzer
ESD electrostatic discharge
ESD event sequence diagram
ESTEC European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA)
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FAQ frequently asked questions
FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation
FAT file allocation table
FBA fanbeam antenna
FDP file delivery protocol
FEA finite element analysis
FECF Frame Error Control Field
FEM Finite Element Model
FER frame error rate
FES fine error sensor
FET field-effect transistor
FFR Fabrication Feasibility Review
FFT fast Fourier transform
FIFO first in, first out
FIPS Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer (sensor)
FITS Flexible Image Transport System
FM flight model
FMEA failure mode effects analysis
FOP Frame Operation Procedure
FOT Flight Operations Team
FOV field-of-view
FPA focal plane assembly
FPGA field-programmable gate array
FPP fault protection processor
FPP floating point processor
FPU focal plane unit
FRU frequency reference unit
FTA fault tree analysis
FTE full-time equivalent
FTP full-time equivalent
FU flight unit
FU/FS flight unit/flight spare
FUV far ultraviolet
FW filter wheel
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G&A General and Administrative
G&C guidance and control
GC Geochemistry Group
GDS Ground Data System
GG Geology Group
GLAS Geoscience Laser Altimeter System
GP Geophysics Group
GPC gas proportional counter
GRC John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field
GRNS Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (Instrument)
GRS Gamma-Ray Spectrometer
GRT Ground Received Time
GS Ground System
GSE ground support equipment
GSE Ground System Engineer
GSEOS Ground Support Equipment Operating System
GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center
GUI graphic user interface
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H/H high/high
H/M high/medium
HBCUs Historically Black Colleges and Universities
HD hard disk
HDI high density interconnect
HEF high-efficiency
HFET heterostructure field-effect transistor
HGA high-gain antenna
HISSC High Intensity Solar Simulation Chamber
HITL hardware-in-the-loop
HK housekeeping
HPGe high purity germanium
HPLVF high pressure latch valve, fuel
HPLVO high pressure latch valve, oxidizer
HR heat rejection
HRG hemispherical resonator gyroscope  
HRSC High-Resolution Stereo Camera
HSKP housekeeping
HTTP hypertext transfer protocol
HV high voltage
HVPS high voltage power supply
HW hardware
Hz hertz
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I&T integration and test
I/F Interface
I²C inter-integrated circuit
IA&T Integration, Assembly and Test
IAA International Academy of Astronautics
IAC International Astronautical Congress (an IAA, IAF meeting)
IAF International Astronautical Federation
IC initial calibration
ICD Interface Control Document
ICLCPM International Conference on Low-Cost Planetary Missions (an IAA meeting)
ICS Ion Composition Subsystem
IDS Instrument Data System
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
IEM Integrated Electronics Module
IFFR Informal Fabrication Feasibility Review
IGSE Instrument Ground Support Equipment
IK Instrument Parameter Kernel (SPICE)
IMEWG             International Mars Exploration Working Group
IMU Inertial Measurement Unit
IPSDU Instrument Power Switching and Distribution Unit
IPTF interprocessor transfer frame
IR infrared
IR&D Independent Research and Development
IRD Interface Requirements Document
IRR Integration Readiness Review
ISI Integral Systems, Incorporated (EPOCH)
ISP integrated structure and propulsion
ISR interrupt service routine
ITAR International Traffic in Arms Regulations
ITF instrument transfer frame
ITO indium tin oxide
IV current (I) voltage (V)
IV&V independent verification and validation
IYP in your palm
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JGR Journal of Geophysical Research (J. Geophys. Res.)
JHU The Johns Hopkins University
JHU/APL The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
JPC Joint Propulsion Conference (an AIAA meeting)
JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory
JTAG Joint Test Action Group
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KB kilobytes
kbps kilobits per second
KSC Kennedy Space Center
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L/C load case
LAMRC lossy adaptive multi-resolution compression
LASP Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
LBNL Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
LCC leadless chip carrier
LCCC leadless ceramic chip carrier
LGA low-gain antenna
LLNL Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
LPB Logical Parameter Block
LPI Lunar and Planetary Institute
LPSC Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
LRR Launch Readiness Review
LSC launch services contractor
LSK leapseconds kernel (SPICE)
LSoC low state of charge
LUT look-up table
LV launch vehicle
LVA large velocity adjustment
LVDS low voltage differential signaling
LVPS Low Voltage Power Supply
LVS Low Voltage Sensor
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MAG Magnetometer (Instrument)
MASCS Mercury Atmospheric and Surface Composition Spectrometer
MCM miscellaneous contract materials
MCM momentum correction maneuver
MCP microchannel plate
MCP Monitor and Control Processor (DSN station)
MDIS Mercury Dual Imaging System (Instrument)
MDM micro "D" metal
MEM MESSENGER Education Module
MEOP maximum expected operating pressure
MEPAG Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group
MERLIN Mercury Links
MESSENGER MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging
MET mission elapsed time
MEU Main Electronics Unit
MEX Matlab Executable (file format)
MG&C MESSENGER Guidance and Control
MGA medium-gain antenna
MI minority institutions
MIA Monitor Interface Assembly (DSN station)
MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIWG Mission Integration Working Group
MKS Mortice Kern Systems (software package for configuration control)
MLA Mercury Laser Altimeter (Instrument)
MLI multilayer insulation
MLS microwave limb sounder
MM Mission Manager
MMIC monolithic microwave integrated circuit
MOC Mission Operations Center
MODC miscellaneous other direct costs
MOI Mercury orbit insertion
MOPA master oscillator power amplifier
MOPS Mission Operations
MOS Mission Operations System
MOSFET metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor
MOT Mission Operations Team
MP main processor (in the IEM)
MPA mirror positioning assembly
MPB Main Processor Board
MPCF Mission Operations Center to Payload Command Filter
MPG Mission Planning Group
MRDF Material Review Disposition Form
MRR Mission Readiness Review
MSE math, science, and engineering
MSE Mission System Engineer
msec millisecond
MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center
MSPSP Missile System Prelaunch Safety Package
MSPSP Missile System Prelaunch Safety Program
MSSE Mission Software System Engineer
MSU Montana State University
MTAC Mid-Atlantic Technology Applications Center  
MTF modulation transfer function
MTTF mean-time-to-failure
MU-SPIN Minority University-SPace Interdisciplinary Network
MUV middle ultraviolet
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NA narrow-angle
NAC narrow-angle camera
NAIF Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASCOM NASA Communications Network
NASM National Air and Space Museum
NASTRAN NASA Structural Analysis
NLS NASA Launch Systems
NLT not later than
NRE non-recurring engineering
NRTS Network Resources and Training Sites
NS Neutron Spectrometer
NSBRI National Space Biomedical Research Institute
NSES National Science Education Standards
NSTA National Science Teachers Association
NT New Technology
NTE not to exceed
NTO Nitrogen Tetroxide
NTS National Technical Systems
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OCLI Optical Coating Laboratories, Inc.
OCM orbit correction maneuver
OCXO oven controlled crystal oscillator
ODBC open database connectivity
ODC other direct costs
ODF orbit data file
OIM orbit insertion maneuver
OLS Orbital Launch Services
OMB Office of Management and Budget
OMS Orbital Maneuvering Subsystem
OPAG Outer Planets Assessment Group
OPNAV Optical Navigation
OS Operating System
OSDP onboard signal and data processor
OSR optical solar reflector
OSS Office of Space Science
OWLT one-way light time
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P/FR Problem/Failure Report
PA Performance Assurance
PAA phased array antenna
PAE Performance Assurance Engineer
PAF payload attach fitting
PAIP Product Assurance Implementation Plan
PAUX pressure, auxiliary tank
PB Parameter Block
PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect
PCI peripheral component interconnect
PCI peripheral component interface
PCK Planetary Constants Kernel (SPICE)
PCM phase change material
PCM power converter module
PCS probability of command shutdown
PCU Power Conversion Unit
PDR Preliminary Design Review
PDS Planetary Data System
PDU Power Distribution Unit
PEM particle environment monitor
PEPL Preliminary Electrical Part List
PER Pre-Environmental Review
PERT Program Evaluation and Review Technique
PF proto-flight
PFR problem/failure report
Phase B 20 December 1999-30 June 2001
Phase C/D 1 July 2001-30 April 2004
Phase E 1 May 2004-30 September 2011
PI Principal Investigator
PID proportional integral derivative
PIDDP Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program
PIPE planetary image processing environment
PLM periapse lower maneuver
PLR Program Level Requirements
PM Project Manager
PMD propellant management device
PMT photomultiplier tube
POR power on reset
POSIX portable open systems interface extended
ppb parts per billion
PPCI Power PCI = Power Peripheral Componnet Interconnect
PPL Preferred Parts List
ppm parts per million
PPS pulse per second
PPSM Processor/power supply module
PPT peak-power tracker
PQS Program Quality Summary
PRA probabilistic risk assessment {tc "F.3.8 X-ray Spectrometer (XRS)"}
ProcPAR Procurement Product Assurance Requirements
PROM programmable read only memory
PS Project Scientist
PSD power spectral density
PSE power-system electronics
PSI Pressure Systems, Inc.
PSIA

pounds per square inch absolute

PSLA project service level agreement
PSR Pre-Ship Review
PSU power switching unit
PTP programmable telemetry processor
PWB printed wiring board
PWM pulse-width modulation
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QARL Quality Assurance Requirement Level
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R Rayleighs
RAM random access memory
RDC resolver to digital converter
RE recurring engineering
REA rapid environmental assessment
REA rocket engine assembly
RF radio frequency
RFI Requests for Information
RFP Request for Proposal
RIO remote input output
RIU reasonable order of magnitude
RP rapid prototype
RPN reverse polish notation
RS Radio Science
RT remote terminal (1553)
RTLT round trip light time
RTW Real-Time Workshop
RTX real time express
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S/C spacecraft            
S/W software
SA Solar Array
SADA Solar Array Drive Actuator
SAIC Science Applications International Corporation
SAS Science Analysis System
SBLO Small Business Liaison Office
SBV space based visible
SCA Subcontract Administrator
SCCS Source Configuration Control System
SCET spacecraft event time
SCLK Spacecraft Clock Kernel (SPICE)
SCP spacecraft control processor
SCPS Space Communications Protocol Standards
SCSE Spacecraft System Engineer
SCSI Small Computer System Interface
SD Space Department
SDB Small Disadvantaged Business
SDD software detailed design
SDP Software Development Plan
SDR Subsystem Design Review
SDST small deep space transponder
SEI Space Electronics, Incorporated
SES Scientific & Engineering Solutions
SEU single-event-upset
SFDU Standard Formatted Data Unit
SI Science Instrument
SMT surface mounted technology
SNAPSAT Short Notice Accelerated Production SATellite
SNR signal-to-noise ratio
SOC Science Operations Center
SOC state-of-charge (battery)
SOW Statement of Work
SPE Static Phase Error
SPICE spacecraft, planet, instrument, c-matrix, events
SPIE Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers
SPK Spacecraft and Planets Kernel (SPICE)
SPM Science Payload Manager
SQA Software Quality Assurance
SQL sequential query language
SRAM static random access memory
SRD System Requirements Document
SRR System Requirements Review
SRR/CoDR System Requirements Review/Conceptual Design Review
SRS software requirements specification
SSC Science Steering Committee
SSCM Small Spacecraft Cost Model
SSD solid-state detector
SSPA solid-state power amplifier
SSR solid-state recorder
SSRA solid-state recorder assembly
ST Star Tracker
STE special test equipment
STEREO Solar-Terrestrial Relations Observatory
STICS Supra-Thermal Ion Composition Spectrometer
STOL Spacecraft Test and Operations Language
SW software
SWG Science Working Group
SwRI Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colorado
SWSE Software System Engineer
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TA true anomaly
TBD to be determined
TCE

thermal coefficient of expansion

TCM trajectory correction maneuver
TCP transmission control protocol
TCXO temperature compensated crystal oscillator
TDB Terrestrial Barycentric Time
TDT Terrestrial Dynamic Time
TEC thermo-electric cooler
TGA thermal gravimetric analysis
TIM Technical Interchange Meeting
TIMED Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Energetics and Dynamics
TIU time interval unit
TLC target language compiler
TLM telemetry
TLMIF telemetry interface
TMC total mission cost
TMDC total modified direct cost
TML total mass loss
TMOD Telecommunications and Mission Operations Directorate
TMR triple module redundancy
TOF time-of-flight
TQCM temperature controlled quartz crystal microbalance
TRIO temperature remote input output
TRL technology readiness level            
TrueFFS True Flash File System
TSD Technical Services Department
TVC thrust vector control
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UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
UCB University of California, Berkeley
UCSB University of California, Santa Barbara
UM University of Michigan
US United States
USN Universal Space Net
USO Ultra-Stable Oscillator
UTC coordinated universal time
UV ultraviolet
UVSN unpowered Venus swingby navigation
UVVS Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrometer (Instrument)
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V&V validation and verification
V/T voltage/temperature
VC virtual channel
VEXAG Venus Exploration Analysis Group
VHDL VHSIC hardware description language
VHSIC very high speed integrated circuit
VIRS Visible-Infrared Spectrograph   (Instrument)
VIS visible
VLSI very large scale integration
VMAG Vector Magnetometer
VME Versa Module Eurocard
VPT manufacturer of DC-DC converters
VSE Vision for Space Exploration
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WA wide-angle
WAC wide-angle camera
WAN wide area network
WBS Work Breakdown Structure
WCL wire connection list
WDT watch dog timer
WOSB women-owned small business
wrt with respect to
WW wirewrap
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XGRS X-ray and Gamma-ray Spectrometer
XML extended markup language
XRS X-Ray Spectrometer (Instrument)
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