STScI Acronym List

Sections

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)
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

*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

*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

*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

*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)

*Z*

z
redshift
ZD
zenith distance
ZOE
zone of exclusion (TDRS)

Comments

Please send comments, suggestions, and additions to this list to

Mark Stevens, stevens@stsci.edu

October 5, 1995