yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (02/05/91)
Satellite radiation.
IRCFE Infrared Communications Demonstrates the feasibility of using diffuse
Flight Experiment infrared light as a carrier for Shuttle crew
communications.
IRIS Italian Research Interim Italian upper stage for use on the Shuttle.
Stage
IRT Integrated Rendezvous Radar A target for testing of Shuttle Orbiter rendezvous
Target techniques and capabilities in orbit.
ISAC INTELSAT Solar Array Studies atomic oxygen effects on materials (silver
Coupons and zinc sulphite).
ISAIAH Israeli Space Agency Gravity perceptions by hornets and their reactions
Investigation About Hornets to changes in gravity.
ISAS Institute of Space and The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of
Astronautical Science Japan.
ISC International Space Commercial joint endeavor activity.
Corporation
ISEM ITA Standardized Experiment Cross-bay structure for accommodating multiple
material processing experiments and other
investigations
ISF Industrial Space Facility Commercially-owned, man-tended orbiting facility
for research and manufacturing activities.
ITV Instrumented Test Vehicle Target for Anti Satellite.
IUS Inertial Upper Stage Upper stage system for Shuttle and Titan.
IUTE Industry University Series of Space Technology experiments for U.S.
Technology Experiment industry and universities to be flown on the
Shuttle or ELV.
JOINT DAMPING Measurement of the damping behavior of liquids in a
variety of rotating tanks.
L3 Latitude/Longitude Locator Tests the capability of a space sextant/camera
system to locate earth surface targets within 10
nautical miles.
LAGEOS Laser Geodynamics Satellite Spherical passive satellite covered with
retroflectors which are illuminated by ground-based
lasers to determine precise measurements of the
Earth's crustal movements.
LDCE Limited Duration Space Evaluation of candidate space structure composite
Environment Candidate materials for degradation due to exposure in LEO
Materials Exposure (passive systems).
LDEF Long Duration Exposure Free-flying satellite providing accommodations for
Facility experiments requiring long term exposure to the
space environment.
LEO Low Earth Orbit
LFC Large Format Camera Acquire synoptic, high-resolution images of the
Earth's surface.
LIFESAT Life Sciences Satellite Life science missions with micro-gravity
experimentation as the primary objective.
LIQUID MOTION Liquid Motion in a Rotating Investigation of the behavior of liquids in a
Tank variety of rotating tanks.
LITE Lidar In-Space Technology Project to measure the atmospheric parameters from
Experiment a space platform utilizing laser sensors.
LM Long Module Spacelab Crew Module.
LO Lunar Observer Geological, elemental, gravity, and magnetic field
mapping of moon.
MACE Middeck Active Control Validation of controls/structures interaction
Experiment technologies in zero gravity.
MAGELLAN Spacecraft designed to globally map the surface of
Venus.
MAGSAT Magnetic Field Satellite Map the magnetic field of the earth.
MAR Middeck Accommodations Rack An experiment integration facility installed in the
middeck of the Shuttle with stowage volume
equivalent to five middeck lockers. Power
distribution and active thermal control options are
available.
MARS OBSERVER Spacecraft to study the surface, climate,
gravitational, and magnetic fields of the planet
Mars.
MARS OBSERVER Spacecraft to study Martian upper atmosphere and
II ionosphere. Precursor to Mars Rover Sample Return
Mission.
MBB Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm A German industrial aerospace organization.
MD Middeck Lower deck of the Shuttle crew compartment.
MEMBRANE Permeable Membrane for Verification of membrane transport performance in
Plant Nutrient Delivery low gravity.
System
MGM Mechanics of Granular Microgravity experiment to study the effects of
Materials heat and near-zero gravity on the physical
properties associated with various materials.
MICROWAVE Microwave Power Demonstration of ability to transmit microwave
Transmission Phase I power in space.
MIS I Drug Microencapsulation in Evaluates the effects of microgravity on methods
Microgravity used to encapsulate drugs within biodegradable
polymers. Combines materials science with
biomedical product development and results in the
production of a pharmaceutical product in space.
MLE Mesoscale Lightning Record and observe the visual characteristics of
Experiment large scale lightning as seen from space using
onboard television cameras.
MLR Monodisperse Latex Reactor Produces monodisperse latex particles in the two to
forty micron range.
MODE Middeck 0-g Dynamics To study the dynamics of liquids and skewed space
Experiment structures in the microgravity environment.
MORELOS Mexican communication satellite system.
MPEC Multi-Purpose Experiment An extended Hitchhiker-G. GAS canister capable of
Canister deploying an internally stowed payload.
MPESS Mission Peculiar Equipment A cross-bay Shuttle payload carrier and support
Support Structure system for payloads weighing up to 3000 pounds.
MPSE Mexican Payload Specialist Experiment performed by a Mexican payload
Experiment specialist on the Shuttle flight which deployed the
MORELOS satellite.
MPWD Microgravity Packed Bed
Water Dynamics
MS Mission Specialist A member of Shuttle flight crew primarily
responsible for Orbiter subsystem and payload
activities.
MS Manned Systems Demonstrates critical components of SSF equipment
such as food systems and personal hygiene
facilities.
MSAT Mobile Satellite Satellite for developing advanced ground
technologies and techniques for mobile
communications via satellite.
MSL Materials Science A payload which remains attached to the Shuttle to
Laboratory perform materials processing experiments in low-g.
MTC Man-tended Capability Ability to perform laboratory operations on the SSF
when the Shuttle is present.
N/A Not Applicable
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Communications satellite for NATO.
Organization
NOAA National Oceanic and Series of operational environmental satellites in
Atmospheric Administration polar orbit.
NOSL Night/Day Optical Survey of Optical survey of lightning.
Lightning
NOVA Advanced Navy Navigation Satellite.
NTE NASA Technology Experiments A series of technology experiments sponsored by the
Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology and
flown on the Shuttle.
OA NASA Office of the
Administrator
OAET NASA Office of Aeronautics,
Exploration and Technology
OAET-1 Office of Aeronautics, Several advanced space technology experiments
Exploration and utilizing a common data system and mounted on a
Technology-1 platform in the Shuttle bay, previously called
OAST-2.
OAET-FLYER Office of Aeronautics, Free flyer deployed from the Shuttle containing
Exploration and several space technology experiments.
Technology-Flyer
OASIS OEX Autonomous Supporting Collects environmental data in the Orbiter during
Instrumentation System dynamic STS flight phases.
OAST NASA Office of Aeronautics
and Space Technology
OAST-1 Office of Aeronautics and A payload which remained attached to the Shuttle to
Space Technology-1 demonstrate a large light-weight solar array
capable of being restowed in flight.
OC NASA Office of
Communications
OCP NASA Office of Commercial
Programs
OCTW Optical Communication Thru Demonstrates system to allow Shuttle crews to
the Shuttle Window Flight interface with payloads without depending on
Demonstration Orbiter communication systems.
OEX Orbiter Experiments Series of engineering experiments on the Orbiter.
OIM Oxygen Interaction with Tests which obtained quantitative rates of oxygen
Materials interaction with materials used on the Orbiter and
advanced payloads.
OPM Optical Properties Monitor An experiment to determine the effects of the space
environment on critical spacecraft and optical
materials by evaluating optical properties over
time on a deployable carrier.
ORFEUS-SPAS Orbiting and Retrievable A German developed payload to explore the
Far and Extreme Ultraviolet distribution and character of radiation absorbing
Spectrometer material in the solar system and to perform direct
ultraviolet observations of the direct interstellor
component.
ORS Orbiter Refueling System An experiment to demonstrate the ability of the STS
to perform on-orbit satellite refueling.
OSCAR Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur communication satellite.
Amateur Radio
OSF NASA Office of Space Flight
OSL Orbiting Solar Laboratory Provide detailed data on the sun, to augment our
studies of distant stars and cosmic processes.
OSO NASA Office of Space
Operations
OSS-1 Office of Space Science-1 Single Pallet carrying eight experiments to
demonstrate the use of the Shuttle for
investigations in space plasma physics, solar
physics, astronomy, etc. and to characterize the
Orbiter and payload bay environment.
OSSA NASA Office of Space
Science and Applications
OSTA-1 Office of Space and Shuttle attached payload using the Shuttle Imaging
Terrestial Applications Radar (SIR-A) to obtain high resolution images of
earth.
OSTA-2 Office of Space and Microgravity experiments.
Terrestial Applications
OSTA-3 Office of Space and Acquire photographic and radar images of the
Terrestial Applications Earth's surface.
P-CELL Gravity, Chromosomes, and Test of specimens of aseptically cultured plant
Organized Development in cells to determine if they will undergo normal cell
Plant Cells division and growth as on Earth.
P-CENT Gravitropic Responses of Quantitative characterization of plant cell growth
Plant Seedlings from gravitropic plant seeds without guidance from
a significant gravity force.
PAL or PALL Pallet Spacelab Pallet structure.
PALAPA Synchronous satellite communication system for the
Republic of Indonesia.
PAM Payload Assist Module An upper stage system used on the Shuttle and the
Delta ELV.
PARE Physiological & Anatomical Study the physiological and anatomical changes that
Rodent Experiment occur in mammals under weightless space flight
conditions.
PBE Pool Boiling Experiment Study fundamental mechanisms that constitute pool
boiling.
PCG-II Protein Crystal Growth-II PCG activity in controlled temperature module.
PCG-III Protein Crystal Growth-III Obtain high quality protein crystals to facilitate
analysis of structures.
PCGPROTO Protein Crystal Growth Development of rapid response equipment to
Prototype facilitate investigation of new/special PCG
techniques or samples.
PDRS/PFTA Payload Deployment and First object to be unberthed and reberthed by the
Retrieval System/Payload remote manipulator system, used to test the
Flight Test Article performance of the RMS in handling a massive
object.
PHCF Pituitary Growth Hormone Microgravity induced effects on pituitary (active
Cell Function growth) hormones in various types of living cells.
PIONEER VENUS Remote sensing and direct measurements of Venus and
its surrounding environment.
PL OPPTY Payload Opportunity
PLAN Planetary Trajectory High Energy Trajectory to Outer Planets.
PLC Payload Commander A member of the Shuttle crew having overall crew
responsibility for planning, integration, and
on-orbit coordination of payload mission
activities.
PLT Pilot A member of the Shuttle crew whose primary
responsibility is to pilot the Orbiter.
PLUM Polymerization With Light Perform ultra-violet light induced polymerization
Under Microgravity of organic copolymers in microgravity
PM Polymer Morphology Determines effects of weightlessness on
morphological formation of polymers as they undergo
physical transition.
PMC Permanently Manned Ability for a four person crew to occupy the Space
Capability Station Freedom Manned Base on a permanent basis
with periodic crew rotation.
PMG Plasma Motor Generator ELV secondary payload experiment to verify ability
of plasma sources to couple electric current along
a wire.
PMZF Programible Multi-Zone Materials processing apparatus located in the
Furnace middeck accommodations rack.
POLAR Polar Auroral Plasma Physics spacecraft.
PPE Phase Partitioning Study separation behavior of two phase system
Experiment generated by the mixture in water of polyglucose
and polyethylene glycol.
PROFILE Navy Satellite Small ELV class spacecraft -- Navy experimental
communications satellite.
PS Payload Specialist A member of the Shuttle crew, who is not a NASA
astronaut, whose presence is required to perform
specialized functions with respect to one or more
payloads or other mission unique activities.
PSE Physiological Systems Examines effects of hormone therapy on changes in
Experiment organic systems during spaceflight.
PVTOS Physical Vapor Transport of Grow crystalline films on selected substrates of
Organic Solids organic solids
RADARSAT Radar Satellite Remote free flyer sensing satellite that will
monitor land, sea and ice for five years over the
poles (U.S./Canadian).
REQ Request
RME Radiation Monitoring Measures gamma radiation levels in the Shuttle
Equipment environment.
RMS Remote Manipulator System A Canadian developed, remotely controlled (from the
Orbiter crew cabin) arm for deployment and/or
retrieval of payloads from the Orbiter payload bay.
S Scout Small Class Expendable Launch Vehicle.
SAGE Strategic Aerosol and Gas Map vertical profiles of the ozone, aerosol,
Experiment nitrogen Rayleigh molecular extinction around the
globe.
SAM Shuttle Activation Monitor Collects gamma and X-ray data as a function of
geomagnetic location from spacecraft materials.
SAMPEX Solar, Anomalous, and A spacecraft to study solar energetic particles,
Magnetospheric Particle anomalous cosmic rays, galactic cosmic rays, and
Explorer magnetospheric electrons.
SAMS Space Acceleration Provides Orbiter acceleration measurements in
Measurement System support of microgravity experiments.
SAREX Shuttle Amateur Radio Low cost space to ground voice and slow scan
Experiment television experiment.
SAS Space Adaptation Syndrome Physiological changes which occur when adapting to
microgravity.
SATCOM RCA communications satellite.
SBS Satellite Business Systems All digital domestic communication system servicing
large industry, the government, etc.
SE Student Experiment Experiments sponsored by the Shuttle Student
Involvement Program (SSIP).
SEDS Small Expendable Deployer Experimental tether deployment device.
System
SFMD Storable Fluid Management Demonstrates transfer of room-temperature fluids in
Demonstration zero-g using various transfer techniques.
SFP Space Flight Participant A Shuttle crew member whose presence is not
required for operation of payloads or mission
unique activities, but is determined by the NASA
Administrator to contribute to other approved NASA
objectives or to be in the national interest.
SFU-RETR Space Flyer Unit Retrieval A reusable, retrievable unmanned free flyer to be
launched on the Japanese H-II rocket and retrieved
by Shuttle.
SHARE Space Station Heat Pipe Demonstrates and quantifies the thermal performance
Advanced Radiator Element of a high capacity, 50 foot, space constructible,
heat pipe radiator element.
SHEAL Shuttle High Energy Obtains images, spectra and timing data on
Astrophysics Laboratory celestial X-ray sources and the spectrum at the 30
ft. X-ray background.
SHOOT Super Fluid Helium On Orbit Demonstrates the feasibility of on-orbit transfer
Transfer Demonstration of superfluid helium using thermomechanical
techniques.
SII Space Industries, Inc. U.S. company providing commercially-owned
Industrial Space Facility (ISF).
SIR Shuttle Imaging Radar Series of synthetic aperture radar experiments.
SIRTF Space Infrared Telescope Will span the infrared part of the spectrum with a
Facility thousand-fold increase in sensitivity.
SKIRT Spacecraft Kinetic Infrared Measures the infrared emissions produced from
Test spacecraft and optical surfaces in low earth orbit.
SKYNET United Kingdom military communication satellite.
SL-D1 Spacelab D1 First dedicated German Spacelab mission.
SL-D2, -D3 Spacelab D2, D3 Second and third in a series of German Spacelab
Missions. Objectives include microgravity research
and technology preparation for Space Station use.
SL-E2 Spacelab European Mission ESA sponsored science mission directed toward
multidiscipline research in material science, fluid
science, life science, space science, observation
and technology.
SL-J Spacelab J Combined Japanese/NASA Spacelab mission. Objectives
include life sciences, microgravity, and technology
research.
SLS Space Life Sciences Investigates the effects of weightlessness exposure
Laboratory using both man and animal specimens.
SLSTP Space Life Sciences Series of payloads to support a broad range of life
Training Program science studies.
SLTP Space Loss Tissue Payload Life sciences investigations.
SMEX Small Explorer Payloads being designed to fly on Small Class ELV.
SMR San Marco Range Italian small class ELV launch range off Kenya
coast.
SMRM Solar Maximum Repair Conducted a technology demonstration of the STS
Mission capability to rendezvous, service, checkout and
deploy.
SOHO Solar Heliospheric Provides optical measurements as well as plasma
Observatory field and energetic particle observations of the
sun system for studies of the solar interior,
atmosphere and solar wind.
SOLAR PROBE Study unexplored region of the solar atmosphere,
measure electromagnetic fields and study the
particle populations close to the sun.
SOOS Stacked OSCAR on Scout Two OSCAR satellites.
SPACEHAB U.S. company providing commercially-owned
pressurized module for conducting experiments in a
man-tended environment.
SPACELAB 1 Demonstrated Spacelab's capabilities for
multidisciplinary research.
SPACELAB 2 Demonstrated Spacelab's capabilities for
multidisciplinary research and verified system
performance.
SPACELAB 3 Dedicated materials processing mission emphasizing
research in microgravity conditions.
SPADVOS Spaceborne Direct Viewing Evaluates the crew's ability to utilize direct
Optical System viewing system to allow realtime detection of
ground and airborne targets.
SPAS Shuttle Pallet Satellite Payload Carrier developed by MBB of W. Germany.
SPAS-01/01A German Shuttle Pallet Demonstrates the utilization of the MBB platform
Satellite and systems as a carrier for science experiments.
SPAS-III Shuttle Pallet Satellite A reflight of the Infrared Background Survey (IBSS)
III mission.
SPTN Shuttle Pointed Autonomous X-ray astronomy, medium energy survey mission,
Research Tool for Astronomy using retrievable free flyer.
SPTN-HALLEY SPARTAN-HALLEY Search for molecules containing nitrogen, carbon or
sulfur and observes the UV spectrum between 2100
and 3400A.
SRAD/TPITS Shuttle Radiator Assembly Evaluates on-orbit thermal performance of a
Demonstration/Two Phase representative portion of an integrated two-phase
Integrated Thermal System thermal bus and on-orbit assembly of Space Station
radiator elements using Remote Manipulator System
and Extra Vehicular Activity techniques.
SRL Space Radar Laboratory Series of flights to acquire radar images of the
Earth's surface. The images will be used for
making maps, interpreting geological features, and
conducting resource studies.
SS Sun Synchronous Sun-synchronous polar orbit.
SSBUV Shuttle Solar Backscatter Series of flights to measure ozone characteristics
Ultra-Violet Instrument of the atmosphere.
SSCE Solid Surface Combustion Determines the gas-phase flamespread over solid
Experiment fuel surfaces in microgravity.
SSE Space Suit Evaluation Demonstrates operational aspects of the Space
Station's extra vehicular activity suit.
SSF Space Station Freedom Orbiting Space Station.
SSF/L Space Station Launches to the SSF Manned Base with emphasis on
Freedom/Logistics logistics support materials.
SSF/MB Space Station Freedom Assembly launches of modules for the SSF Manned
Manned Base Base.
SSF/UF Space Station
Freedom/Utilization Flight
SSIP Shuttle Student Involvement Competitions held between 1981-1985 in which the
Program winning High School students proposed experiments
which were accepted for Shuttle flights.
STEX Sensor Technology Demonstrates radiation measurement technology.
Experiment
STL Space Tissue Loss Model An experiment to validate or confirm model of
skeletal and cardiac muscle atrophy, collect data
on catabolic pathway and control mechanisms, and
test candidate pharmaceuticals for efficacy.
STP-XX Space Test Program-XX A series of payloads which include DOD STP
secondary experiments.
STS Space Transportation System
STTP Life Sciences Space Activity to develop and encourage interest on the
Technology Training Program part of college students in space biology and
medicine.
SWAS Submillimeter Wave Spacecraft to study how molecular clouds collapse
Astronomy Satellite to form stars and planetary systems.
SYNCOM Hughes Geosynchronous Provides communication services from geosynchronous
Communication Satellite orbit principally to the U.S. government.
TANK VENT Tank Venting Experiment Investigation of concepts to provide tank
fill-while-venting to 90 percent full capacity.
TAPS Two Axis Pointing System An instrument support system which allows pitch,
roll, or combinations thereof to precisely point
instruments at different targets.
TBD To Be Determined
TDRS Tracking and Data Relay Series of NASA tracking, data and communications
Satellite satellites to replace the NASA ground based
network.
TELESAT Canadian Telecommunication Communication satellite built for Telesat Canada to
Satellite provide voice and TV coverage to trans-Canada
network of Earth stations.
TELSTAR AT&T Communications AT&T COMSTAR replacement -- provides communication
Satellite services to the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii,
and Puerto Rico.
TEMP Two Phase Mounting Plate Operates a mechanically pumped two phase head
Experiment acquisition transport and rejection system in
microgravity.
TERRA SCOUT Evaluates the ability of a military expert to
conduct realtime analysis from low earth orbit.
TIP Transit Improvement Program Improved configuration Transit Navigation
Satellite.
TIS Teacher in Space
TITAN II DOD medium class expendable launch vehicle.
TITAN III Commercial intermediate class expendable launch
vehicle.
TITAN IV DOD large class expendable launch vehicle.
TLD Thermoluminescent Dosimeter Obtains gamma ray measurements of the Shuttle
environment.
TOMS Total Ozone Mapping Study of Stratospheric ozone.
Spectrometer
TOS Transfer Orbit Stage Upper stage system for Shuttle and Titan.
TPCE Tank Pressure Control A study to determine the effects of microgravity on
Experiment the thermal stratification of fluids and to
validate the effects of jet induced mixing.
TSS Tethered Satellite System System capable of deploying and retrieving
satellite attached by a wire tether from distances
up to 100 km from the Orbiter.
U.S. United States
UARS Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite to study chemical processes acting within
Satellite and upon the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower
thermosphere.
ULYSSES Formerly ISPM Investigates the properties of the heliosphere (sun
(International Solar Polar and its environment).
Mission)
USML United States Microgravity Series of flights of a microgravity materials
Laboratory processing laboratory attached to the Shuttle.
USMP United States Microgravity Conduct materials processing experiments in the
Payload microgravity environment available in the Orbiter
cargo bay while in low earth orbit.
USS Unique Support Structures
UV Ultraviolet
UVLIM Ultraviolet Limb Imaging Establishes the earth and space extreme UV
Experiment environment and observes space structure and time
variation in segments of the 1100-3000 angstrom
range.
UVPI Ultraviolet Plume Imager Free-flying satellite observation of Orbiter OMS
burns.
VCS Voice Controlled System Evaluates effectiveness of voice controlled system
on the Shuttle cargo bay closed circuit television.
VFT Visual Function Test in A biomedical study to determine effects of
Space microgravity on human visual performance.
VIPOR Visual Investigation A series of experiments to study elements that can
Program on Orbiter affect and degrade the performance of any optical
Operations (photo, visual, or video) system.
WESTAR Western Union Telegraph A C-band satellite to replenish and expand the
Communication Satellite Westar system (Western Union domestic communication
system).
WFF Wallops Flight Facility
WIND Satellite to measure solar wind input to
magnetosphere.
WISP Waves in Space Plasma An attached payload to conduct a series of active
experiments using radio transmitters to perturb the
space plasma environment.
WOSE Weather Officer in Space Assesses the feasibility of expert weather
Experiment observations from space to observe, photograph, and
videotape atmospheric and ionospheric phenomena.
WSF Wake Shield Facility Molecular and chemical beam epitaxy growth of
compound semiconductors, high temperature
superconductors, and other materials using
techniques requiring ultra-high vacuum, high
pumping speeds, and relatively large working
volumes.
WSMC Western Space and Missle A USAF organization with Headquarters at Vandenberg
Center Air Force Base, California.
XTE X-Ray Timing Explorer A payload to be used in Earth orbit to investigate
the physical nature of compact X-Ray sources by
studying fluctuations in X-Ray brightness over
time-scales ranging from microseconds to years.