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

*A*

A

Angstrom unit

A

ampere

AA

Academic Affairs

AAS

American Astronomical Society

AB

Archive Branch (STScI)

ACE

Actuator Control Electronics

ACK

acknowldgement message (this is not an acronym)

ACPG

Astronomical Community Participation Group (STScI)

ACS

Actuator Control System

A/D

Analog to Digital

ADC

Analog to Digital Converter

ADOR

Astrometry and Design Operations Review

ADP

Automated Data Processing

AEDP

Astrometry and Engineering Data Processing

AGK3

Katalog der Astronomischen Gesellschaft 3

AH

ampere hours

AHU

Air Handling Unit

AIAA

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

AIPS

Astronomical Image Processing System

AJ

Astronomical Journal

AMU

Atomic mass unit

A/N

alphanumeric

ANSI

American National Standards Institute

AO

Announcement of Opportunity

AOC

Award of contract

AP

array processor

ApJ

Astrophysical Journal

APL

Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU)

APS

American Physical Society

APSB

Advance Planning Systems Branch

AR

Archival Researcher

ASAP

as soon as possible

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange

ASP

analog signal processor

ASP

Astronomical Society of the Pacific

AST

Astrometry (data class)

AST

Astrometry Science Team

ASW

address and synchronization word

AT

acceptance test

ATC

Absolute Time Command

AU

astronomical unit

AURA

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.

AVWG

Assembly and Verification Working Group

AXAF

Advanced X-ray Astronomical Facility

Az

azimuth

---

*B*

BAAS

Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society

BASD

Ball Aerospace Systems Division

BCD

binary coded decimal

BDF

block data format

BDEC

Bendix Field Engineering Corporation

BER

bit error rate

BeV

billion electron volts

B/L

baseline

BOD

board of directors

bpi

bits per inch

bps

bits per second

BPSK

binary phase shift keying

BRAVO

Back-End Redesign for Added Value for Observers

BTU

British Thermal Unit

B/W

black and white

BWI

Baltimore-Washington International Airport

---

*C*

C

degrees Celsius

CA

Coronagraphic Apodizer

C&A

calibration and analysis

CADC

Canadian Astronomical Data Center (Victoria BC)

CAMAC

Computer-Aided Measurement and Control

CAS

cost accounting standards

CASB

Catalogs And Survey Branch

CASE

computer aided software engineering

CBS

Contract and Business Services (STScI)

C/C

configuration control

CCB

Configuration Control Board

CCD

charge coupled device

CCIR

Consultative Committee on International Radio

CCITT

Consultative Committee on International Telegraph & Telephone

CCL

closed conference loop

CCR

configuration change request

CCTV

closed circuit television

CD

compact disc

CDBS

Calibration Data Base System

CDCA

Centre de Depoiullement des Cliches Astronimiques

CD-ROM

compact disc-read only memory

CDR

critical design review

C&DH

Control and Data Handling

CDR

Critical Design Review

CIT

California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA) (do not use CIT, use Caltech)

CKSM

checksum

CL

command language (IRAF system level)

CM

configuration management

cm

centimeter

CMOS

complimentary metal oxide semiconductor

CM/QA

Configuration Management/Quality Assurance

CNS

Computing and Network Services (STScI)

CO

contracting officer

COB

close of business

CODMAC

Committee on Data Management and Computing

COSTAR

Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement

CPAF

cost plus award fee

CPFF

cost plus fixed fee

CPI

characters per inch

CPI

Continuous Process Improvement

CPMF

cost plus management fee

CPMM

characters per millimeter

CPU

central processing unit

CRB

Change Review Board

CRC

cyclic redundancy check

CRT

cathode ray tube

CSAA

Committee on Space Astronomy and Astrophysics

CSC

Computer Sciences Corporation

CSI

Catalog of Stellar Identifications

CSLG

Campus-wide Software License Grants Program

CTA

Computer Technology Associates

CTE

charge transfer efficiency

CTIO

Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (Chile)

CTWG

Calibration Targets Working Group

CU

calibration unit (avoid using as an abbreviation, often confused with central unit, camera unit, command unit, etc.)

CV

cataclysmic variable star

CV

curriculum vitae

CVC

Current to Voltage Converter

CVZ

continuous viewing zone

CY

calendar year

---

*D*

D/A

digital to analog

DADS

Data Archive and Distribution System

DAO

Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (Victoria, BC, Canada)

DAR

Defense Acquisition Regulation

DBMS

data base management system

DBSA

Database and System Administration team (STScI)

dBw

decibel reference to 1 watt

DC

direct current

DCA

Detector Control Assembly

DCB

Design Change Board

DCC

Document Control Center

DCF

Data Capture Facility

DCL

Digital Control Language (VAX/VMS)

DCMF

Data Capture and Management Facility (GSFC)

DCR

document change request

DD

Deputy Director

DDCMP

Digital Data Communications Message Protocol

DDF

Directors Discretionary Fund

DDL

Data Definition Language

DE

detector efficiency

DEC

declination

DEC

Digital Equipment Corporation

DEFCAL

deflection calibration

DG

data group

DH

data handling

DMA

direct memory access

DMF

Data Management Facility

DMS

Daily Mission Schedule

DMS

Data Management Subsystem

DN

digital number

DNA

Digital Network Architecture

DOC

Data Operations Center

DoD

Department of Defense

DOMSAT

Domestic Communications Satellite

DOV

Director of Orbital Verification

DOY

day of year

DQE

detector quantum efficiency

DQF

data quality file

DRD

Data Requirements Document

DSD

Data Systems Division (STScI)

DSN

Deep Space Network

DSOB

Data Systems Operations Branch

---

*E*

E/A

ephemeris/attitude

EBA

Electronics Bay Assembly

EBS

Electron Bombarded Silicon

ECA

Electronics Control Assembly

ECF

European Coordinating Facility (write as ST-ECF)

EDB

Engineering Data Base

EDT

eastern daylight time

EED

extracted engineering data (file type)

EEO

Equal Employment Opportunity

EF

Event Foreground (record type)

EIA

Electronic Industries Association

ELV

expendable launch vehicle

EMI

electromagnetic interference

EMU

Extra-vehicular Mobility Unit

EOF

end of file

EOL

end of line

EOR

end of record

EOT

end of tape

EOY

end of year

EPAO

Educational and Public Affairs Office (do not use EPA)

EPS

Encapsulated PostScript

EROS

Earth Resources Observation Satellite

ERRSAC

Eastern Regional Remote Sensing Applications Center

ESA

European Space Agency

ESB

Engineering Support Branch

ESO

European Southern Observatory

ESOC

European Space Operations Center

ESS

Engineering Support System

EST

eastern standard time

ESTEC

European Space Technology Center

ESTR

Engineering and Science Tape Recorder

ETA

estimated time of arrival

ETC

STDN station (Greenbelt MD)

ETC

estimated time to completion

ETOL

ESA Test and Operations Language

ETR

Eastern Test Range

ETR

Engineering Tape Recorder

ETRD

Engineering Tape Recorded Data

EU

engineering unit

EUV

extreme ultraviolet

EVA

extra vehicular activity

---

*F*

F

degrees Fahrenheit

FAC

facilities

FAC

forecast at completion

FACC

Ford Aerospace Communications Corporation

FAR

Flight Acceptance Review

FAT

file allocation table

FD

file descriptor

FD

flight day (usually used with number, e.g., FD4)

FDI

failure detection and isolation

FDR

final design review

FEAT

Fine Error Averaging Test

FEM

Finite Element Model

FES

fine error signal

FF

flat field (preferred use is to always spell out)

FFT

fast Fourier transform

FGE

Fine Guidance Electronics

FGS

Fine Guidance Sensors (there are three)

FGSAA

FGS Access Area

FHST

Fixed Head Start Tracker

FIFO

first in first out (queueing method)

FIPS

Federal Information Processing Standards

FITS

Flexible Image Transport System

FK4

Fundamental Katalog 4

FM

flight model

FMS

Forms Management System

FOC

Faint Object Camera

FORTRAN

Formula Translation (programming language, do not spell out)

FOS

Faint Object Spectrograph

FOT

Flight Operations Team

FOV

field of view

FPA

Focal Plane Assembly

FPA

floating point accelerator

FPAS

FPA Shroud

FPSA

FPA Structure Assembly

FQR

Flight Qualification Review

FRD

functional requirements document

FRR

Flight Readiness Review

FSK

frequency shift keying

FSM

First Servicing Mission

FSS

Flight Servicing System

FTA

fault tree analysis

FTE

full time employee

FTP

file transfer protocol

FU

flight unit

FWHM

full width at half maximum

FY

fiscal year

---

*G*

GASP

GSSS Archive Support Project

GC

galactic center

GCI

geocentric intertial

GDS

STDN tracking station (Goldstone, CA)

GE

General Electric

GEIS

Generic Edited Information Set (HST image file format)

GG

gravity gradient

GHRS

Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph

GHz

gigahertz

GIF

Graphic Interchange Format

GIMP

geomagnetically induced motion problem

GIO

graphics input/output

GKS

Graphic Kernel System

GMT

Greenwich Mean Time

GO

general observer (sometimes defined as "guest observer")

GPB

group parameter block

GRO

Gamma Ray Observatory

GRU

Ground Replaceable Unit

GSC

Guide Star Catalog

GSFC

Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD)

GSOWG

Ground Systems Operations Working Group

GSP

General Support Pool

GSPC

Guide Star Photometry Catalog

GSSS

Guide Star Selection System

GST

ground system test

GTO

guaranteed time observer

---

*H*

HDOS

Hughes Danbury Optical Systems (Danbury CT)

HEAO

High Energy Astronomy Observatory

HGA

High Gain Antenna

HIPO

hierarchic input process output

HP

Hewlett Packard

HPR

hardware problem report

HQ

headquarters

HRA

High Resolution Apodizer

HR

human resources

HRC

High Resolution Camera

HSC

Hierachical Storage Controller

HSP

High Speed Photometer (removed 1993)

HRS

High Resolution Spectrograph (correct use is GHRS)

HSI

Host System Interface (IRAF)

HSP

High Speed Photometer

HST

Hubble Space Telescope

HTML

Hyptertext Markup Language (WWW)

HV

high voltage

HVPS

high voltage power supply

Hz

Hertz, cycles per second

---

*I*

IAU

International Astrophysical Union

ICCD

intensified charge coupled device

ICD

Interface Control Document

ICF

intrinsic correlation function

ID

identification

IDL

Interactive Data Language (software from RSI)

IDM

Intelligent Database Machine (made by Britton-Lee)

IDT

image dissector tube

IDT

Instrument Development Team (also Investigation Definition Team)

IEEE

Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers

IFOV

instantaneous field of view

IFT

inverse Fourier transform

IGI

Interactive Graphics Interpreter (program in STSDAS)

IIPS

Interactive Image Processing System

IMIO

image input/output

IMSL

International Mathematical and Statistical Library

I/O

input/output

IP

Internet Protocol

IPC

inter-process communication

IPPPSSOOT

file naming convention for HST data sets (not an acronym)

ips

inches per second

IQL

Interactive Query Language

IR

infrared

IRAC

International Radio Advisory Committee

IRAF

Image Reduction Analysis Facility (written by NOAO)

IRAS

Infrared Astronomy Satellite

IRD

Interface Requirements Document

ISR

instrument science report

ITF

intensity transfer function

ITT

International Telephone and Telegraph

IU

interface unit

IUE

International Ultraviolet Explorer

IUESIPS

IUE Spectral Image Processing System

IV

intra vehicular

IVC

Institute Visiting Committee

IWG

Interface Working Group

---

*J*

JHU

The Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)

JPL

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA)

JSC

Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX)

---

*K*

K

degrees Kelvin

k

kilo

KB

kilobytes

kg

kilogram

KHz

kilohertz

km

kilometer

KPNO

Kitt Peak National Observatory (Tucson, AZ)

KSC

Kennedy Space Center

---

*L*

LAC

Lockheed Aircraft Corporation

LAN

local area network

LaRC

Langley Research Center

LAS

Laboratoire Astronomie Spatiale

LCC

Launch Control Center

LDEF

Long Duration Exposure Facility

LED

light emitting diode

LEO

low earth orbit

LeRC

Lewis Research Center

LGA

Low Gain Antenna

LMSC

Lockheed Missile and Space Corporation

LOE

level of effort

LOS

line of sight

LPS

Launch Processing System

LSA

Large Science Aperture (GHRS)

LSF

line spread function

LSG

Liaison Scientists Group

LUT

lookup table

LVPS

low voltage power supply

LWS

Long Wavelength Spectrometer

---

*M*

m

meter

mag

magnitude, unit of star flux, larger value is fainter star

MB

megabyte

mas

milliarcsecond

MDB

multiplexed data bus

MEM

Maximum Entropy Method

MeV

million electron volts

MFR

Manipulator Foot Restraint

MHz

megahertz

MIDAS

Munich Image Data Analysis System

MIL-STD

military standard

MIPS

million instructions per second

MIS

management information system

MIT

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge MA)

MJD

modified Julian date

MKO

Mauna Kea Observatory

mm

millimeter

MM

memory module

MMI

man-machine interface

MMS

Module Management System

MMU

Manned Maneuvering Unit

MOA

memorandum of agreement

MONGO

Interactive graphics software package; this is not an acronym

MOR

Mission Operations Room

MOS

metal oxide semiconductor

MOS

Multi-Object Spectrometer

MOSES

Mission Operations and Systems Engineering Support

MOSS

Moving Object Support System

MOU

memorandum of understanding

MOWG

Mission Operations Working Group

M&P

materials and processes

MPP

multi-pinned phase

MPS

Mission Planning System

M&R

maintenance and refurbishment

MRB

Material Review Board

MS

master schedule

MS

mission schedule

ms

millisecond

MSE

Milton S. Eisenhower library (JHU)

MSFC

Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville AL)

MSC

Mission Support Calibration

MSOCC

Multisatellite Operations Control Center

MT

moving target

MTBF

mean time between failure

MTF

modulation transfer function

MTL

mission time line

MTR

mean time to restore (also mean time to repair)

MU

memory unit

mv

visual magnitude

Mv

absolute visual magnitude

---

*N*

N

Newton

N/A

not applicable

NAG

Numerical Algorithms Groups

NAIF

Navigation Ancillary Information Facility

NAS

National Academy of Sciences

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASCOM

NASA communications network

NBS

National Bureau of Standards (now NIST, do not use NBS)

NCAR

National Center for Atmospheric Research (also their s/w)

NCC

Network Control Center

NCSA

National Center for Supercomputer Applications (Urbana IL)

ND

neutral density

NDC

Network Data Center

NEA

noise equivalent angle

NEC

National Electrical Code

NEMA

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NEP

North Ecliptic Pole

NFS

Network File System

NGP

North Galactic Pole

NGT

NASA Ground Terminal (White Sands NM)

NGT

Next Generation Telescope

NICMOS

Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology

NIU

NASCOM Interface Unit

nm

nanometer

NM

Newton Meters

nmi

nautical miles

NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAO

National Optical Astronomy Observatories (Tucson, AZ)

NOCC

Network Operations Control Center

NRAO

National Radio Astronomy Observatory (Greenbank, WV)

NRC

National Research Council

NRL

Naval Research Laboratory

NRT

near real time

NSF

National Science Foundation

NSI

NASA Science Internet

NSP

NASA Support Plan

NSSDC

National Space Science Data Center (Greenbelt, MD)

NTT

New Technology Telescope

NVR

non-volatile residue

---

*O*

OAF

Optical Alignment Facility

OAO

Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (also OAO Corporation)

OBC

on-board computer

OBP

on-board processor

OCB

Operational Configuration Baseline

OCC

Operations Control Center

OCS

Optical Control System

OCX

observation comments file (from OSS)

ODB

Operations Data Base

ODC

other direct cost

ODF

Orbit Determination Facility

ODL

Observation Data Log

OFAD

optical field angle distortion

OGSE

optical ground support equipment

OLT

Observatory Level Test

O&M

operations and maintenance

OMB

Office of Management and Budget

OMS

Observatory Monitoring System

ONR

Office of Naval Research

OPB

Observation Planning Branch

OPD

Operations and Data Processing Division (STScI)

OPF

Orbiter Processing Facility

OPO

Office of Public Outreach (STScI)

OPO

Operations Project Office (STScI)

OPR

Operations Problem Report

OPS

Operations Division (STScI)

OPUS

OSS and PODPS Unified Systems

ORD

Operations Requirements Document

ORI

Orbit Replaceable Instrument

ORR

Orbit Readiness Review

OS

operating system

OSB

Operations Software Branch (STScI)

OSG

Observatory Support Group (STScI)

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Act

OSS

Observation Support System

OSSO

Observation Science Support Office (STScI)

OST

Observation Sequence Table

OTA

Optical Telescope Assembly

OV

orbital verification

OVIWG

Orbital Verification Implementation Working Group

---

*P*

P&A

Physics and Astronomy (building) at JHU, Bloomberg

PAD

pulse amplitude discriminator

PASP

Proceedings of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

PASS

POCC Application Software Support

PC

Planetary Camera

PCM

pulse code modulation

PCS

Pointing Control System

PCT

Program Coordinator Team

PDA

Photon Detector Assembly

PDB

project data base

PDQ

PODPS Data Quality (file type)

PDR

preliminary design review

PDS

Photometric Data Systems (plate scanner)

P-E

Perkin-Elmer Corporation

PEB

Performance Evaluation Board

PEP

Proposal Entry Processor

PEPSI

PEP System

PFM

Pre-Flight Module

PFR

portable foot restraint

PFS

percent full scale

PGPLOT

FORTRAN subroutine library for plotting graphics

PI

principle investigator

PM

primary mirror

PM

project manager

PMDB

Project Management Data Base

PMT

photomultiplier tube

POCC

Payload Operations Control Center

PODPS

Post Observation Data Processing System

PORTS

Preliminary Operations Requirements and Test Support

POSS

Palomar Observatory Sky Survey

PPF

Payload Processing Facility

ppm

parts per million

PR

Problem Report

PR

public relations

PRB

Preliminary Review Board

PRESTO

Project to Re-Engineer Space Telescope Observing (was US/PS)

PROM

programmable read-only memory

PROS

Post Reduction Offline Software (x-ray software from SAO)

PRR

Preliminary Requirements Review

PSF

point spread function

psi

per square inch

PSK

phase shift keying

PSL

Program Support Library

P/SOS

Payload/Spacecraft Operations Simulator

PSR

Project Status Review

PSS

Palomar Sky Survey (also POSS)

PTF

Payload Test Facility

PWLA

Portable Work Light Assembly

PWM

pulse width modulated

---

*Q*

Q&A

qualification and acceptance

QA

quality assurance

QC

quality control

QE

quality engineering

QE

quantum efficiency

QEH

quantum efficiency hysteresis

QPOE

Quick Position Oriented Event (data format for PROS)

QPSK

quadriture phase shift keying

QSO

quasi-stellar object

QV

quick visual

---

*R*

RA

right ascension

RA

research assistant

rad

radian

RAM

random access memory

RAS

Royal Astronomical Society

RCS

Readiness Control System

R&D

research and development

RF

radio frequency

RFI

radio frequency interference

RFP

request for proposal

RGA

Rate Gyro Assembly

RGB

red green blue

RGO

Royal Greenwich Observatory

R&I

receiving and inspection

RISC

Reduced Instruction Set Computer (IBM)

R-L

Richardson-Lucy (image restoration method)

RM

retrieval mode

rms

root mean square

RMS

Remote Manipulator System

RMS

Record Management System (VAX)

RMS

Republic Management Systems, Inc.

ROE

Royal Observatory Edinburgh

ROM

read-only memory

RPI

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Rensselaer, NY)

rpm

revolutions per minute

RPO

Research Programs Office (STScI)

RPSS

Remote Proposal Submission System

R&QA

reliability and quality assurance

RS

Reed-Solomon error detection

RS

resource scheduler

RSB

Research Support Branch (STScI)

RSDP

Routine Science Data Processing

RSI

Research Systems, Inc.

rss

root sum squared

RSS

Rotating Service Structure

RSU

Rate Sensor Unit

R/T

real time (preferred use is to spell out)

RTA

real time activity

RTB

return to brightest

RTC

real time command

RTO

real time operation

RTS

relative time sequence

RTV

room temperature vulcanizing

RWA

Reaction Wheel Assembly

---

*S*

SA

solar array

SAA

South Atlantic Anomaly

SAC

Solar Array Carrier

SADE-1

Solar Array Deploy Electronics-1

SAL

Space Astronomy Laboratory (Univ. Wisconsin, Madison WI)

SAM

small angle maneuver

SAO

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

SAOC

SAO Catalog

SAR

Software Analysis Room

S/C

spacecraft (preferred use is to spell out)

SCAC

Science Computing Advisory Commitee

SCARS

Science Computing & Research Support Division (STScI)

SCCCB

Science Computing Configuration Control Board

SCE

Spacecraft Command Encoder

SCL

Service Control Level

SCMS

STScI Code Management System

SCO

Software Change Order

SCP

single color photometry

SCSI

Small Computer Systems Interface

SDA

Science Data Analyst

SDAS

Scientific Data Analysis System (replaced by STSDAS, do not use SDAS)

SDD

Software Design Document

SDF

Science Data Formatter

SDH

science data header (file type)

SDM

Secondary Deployment Mechanism

SDP

science data packet

SDR

System Design Review

SDS

science data store

SEA

Sensor Electronics Assembly

SEB

Source Evaluation Board

SEB

Systems Engineering Branch

sec

seconds

SEP

South Ecliptic Pole

SEP

Systems Engineering Plan

SEP

System Enhancement Plan

SER

Systems Engineering Report

SESD

Science and Engineering Systems Division (STScI)

sf

square foot

SGP

South Galactic Pole

SHL

science header line

SHP

standard header packet (file type)

SI

science instrument (preferred use is to spell out)

SIAF

Science Instrument Aperture File

SIB

Science Instrument Branch (STScI)

SIC

Spacecraft Identification Code

SID

Software Implementation Directive

SIDS

SI Detector System

SIF

Science Instrument Formatter

SIF

SOGS Integration Facility

SIM

simulator or simulation

SIMA

Secondary Mirror Incremental Motor Actuator

SIMM

standard inline memory module

SIP

Software Implementation Plan

SIP

SOGS-invocable procedure

SIPE

Science Instrument Protective Enclosure

SIPS

Spectral Image Processing System

SIRD

Support Instrumentation Requirements Document

SIRTF

Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility

SITB

System Integration and Testing Branch (STScI)

SJC

slit jaw camera

SJR

Software Justification Report

SLTV

system level thermal vacuum

SM

secondary mirror

SM

safe mode

SMA

Secondary Mirror Assembly

SMM

Solar Maximum Mission

SMM

science mission management

SMM

Spectro-Mirror Mechanism

SMO

Servicing Mission Office (STScI)

SMOV

Servicing Mission Observatory Verification

SMS

Science Mission Specification

S/N

signal to noise ratio

S/N

serial number

SNAP

Structural Network Analysis Program

SOB

Science Observatory Branch (STScI)

SOFA

Selectable Optical Filter Assembly

SOGS

Science Operations Ground System

SOW

statement of work

SP

sun point

SPA

Solar Panel Assembly

SPAN

Space Physics Analysis Network (now part of NSI)

SPB

Science Planning Branch (STScI)

SPD

Science Programs Division (STScI)

SPE

static phase error

SPG

Special Projects Group (STScI)

SPIE

Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers

SPIEL

Signal Processing Interactive Extensible Language

SPIF

Shuttle POCC Interface Facility

SPO

Sacramento Peak Observatory

SPP

Subset Preprocessor (IRAF programming language)

SPR

Software Problem Report

SPSO

Science Program Selection Office (STScI)

SPSS

Science Planning and Scheduling System

SPST

Science Planning and Scheduling Team

SPYBAL

spectrum Y balance

SQA

software quality assurance

SQPN

staggered quadriphase pseudo-random noise

SQPSK

staggered quadrature phase shift keying

SRB

solid rocket booster

SRC

Science Research Council (U.K.)

SRD

Software Requirements Document

SRS

Southern Reference Star

SS

Star Selector (FGS)

SS

System Simulator

SS

Safing System

SSA

Star Selector Assembly

SSA

Small Science Aperture (GHRS)

SSB

Science Software Branch (STScI)

SSB

Space Science Board (NRC)

SSC

Science Support Center (STOCC)

SSE

Star Selector Encoder

SSG

Science Software Group (STScI)

SSM

System Support Module

SSC

STEIS Steering Committee

SSD

Science Support Division (STScI)

SSO

Special Studies Office (STScI)

SST

Software Support Team (STScI)

ST

Space Telescope (preferred use is HST)

STAC

Space Telescope Advisory Council

STAN

Space Telescope Analysis Newsletter

STAR

Space Telescope Axial Replacement (see COSTAR)

STARCAT

Space Telescope Archive Catalog

STAT

Space Telescope Astrometry Team

STAVF

Space Telescope Assembly and Verification Facility

STDN

Satellite Tracking and Data Network

ST-ECF

Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility

STEIS

Space Telescope Electronic Information System

STFS

Space Telescope Flight Software

STIC

Space Telescope Institute Council

STIF

Software Test and Integration Facility

STIF

Science and Technology Information Facility (Linthicum MD)

STIS

Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph

STL

science trailer line

STOCC

Space Telescope Operations Control Center (GSFC, Greenbelt MD)

STOL

Systems Test and Operations Language

STOMS

Space Telescope Observatory Management System

STR

Software Test Report

STR

Science Tape Recorder

STS

Space Transportation System (jargon for the shuttle)

STScI

Space Telescope Science Institute

STSDAS

Space Telescope Science Data Analysis System (built on IRAF)

STSWG

Space Telescope Science Working Group

STVSW

Space Telescope Verification Software

SUNY

State University of New York

SV

science verification

SVD

singular value decomposition

SVWG

Science Verification Working Group

S/W

software (preferred use is to spell out)

SWAT

swift action team

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*T*

TAC

Time Allocation Committee

TAC

telemetry and command processor (also, TAC-B for B channel)

TAG

two-axis gimbal

TAR

Test Authorization Request

TB

thermal balance

TBD

to be determined

TC

test conductor

TCE

Thermal Control Electronics

TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

TDM

time division multiplexing

TDRS

Tracking and Data Relay Satellite

T&E

test and evaluation

TEC

Thermal Electric Cooler

TEI

The Education Initiative

TFMRP

Transfer Function Mode Reduction Package (FGS)

TFOV

target field of view

TI

Texas Instruments

TIB

Telescope Instrument Branch (STScI, replaced by SIB and SOB)

TIFF

Tagged Image File Format

TIM

Telescope Image Modeling

tm

telemetry (preferred use is to spell out)

TML

total mass loss

TMP

Technical Management Plan

TMTE

telemetry test equipment

TO

target of opportunity

TOCC

TDRS Operations Control Center (White Sands NM)

TOY

time of year

TPI

Technical Proposal Instructions

TR

tape recorder

TRB

Test Review Board

TTC

telemetry, tracking, and command

TTOC

tape table of contents

TV

television

TV

thermal vacuum

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*U*

UAO

University of Arizona Observatories

UCL

University College London

UCLA

University of California Los Angeles

UCSD

University of California San Diego

UDL

unique data log (file type)

UHF

ultra high frequency

UIC

user identification code (VAX)

UL

Underwriters Laboratory

ULE

ultra-low expansion

UMCP

University of Maryland College Park

UPS

uninterruptible power supply

URL

uniform resource locator (WWW)

USB

User Support Branch (STScI)

USNO

United States Naval Observatory

US/PS

see PRESTO

UST

Universal Standard Time

UT

universal time

UT

University of Texas

UTC

coordinated universal time

UV

ultraviolet

UW

University of Wisconsin

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*V*

V

volts

VAB

Vehicle Assembly Building (KSC)

VAC

volts alternating current

VAP

Verification and Acceptance Program

VCS

Vernier Control System

VDC

volts direct current

VDU

video display unit

VFN

virtual file name

VHF

very high frequency

VLA

Very Large Array (Socorro NM)

VLBI

very long baseline interferometry

VLSI

very large scale integration

VMC

Velocity Modulating Camera

VMS

Virtual Memory System

VOS

Virtual Operating System (IRAF)

VPC

viewport coordinates

VPF

Vertical Processing Facility

VPU

video processing unit

VRAM

virtual random access memory

VRCS

Vernier Reaction Control System

VRSD

Verification Requirements and Specifications Document

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*W*

W

watts

WAIS

Wide Area Information Server

WAN

wide area network

WBS

work breakdown schedule

WCS

World Coordinate System

WFC

Wide Field Camera

WF/PC

Wide Field/Planetary Camera (instrument on HST) run by JPL

WFPC2

Wide Field Planetary Camera-2 (no slashes, hypens, or space)

WFS

Wave Front Sensor

WG

working group

WP

work package

WSGS

White Sands Ground Station

WWW

World Wide Web (avoid using W3)

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*Z*

z

redshift

ZD

zenith distance

ZOE

zone of exclusion (TDRS)