Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!delta.eecs.nwu.edu!phil From: phil@delta.eecs.nwu.edu (Bill LeFebvre) Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle Subject: Re: Space Program-related acronyms Keywords: acronyms Message-ID: <1001@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 4 Aug 89 15:50:54 GMT References: <135@sdcc10.ucsd.EDU> Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: phil@delta.eecs.nwu.edu (Bill LeFebvre) Organization: Northwestern U, Evanston IL, USA Lines: 42 There are sooooo many of them. I understand that JSC has a rather sizable booklet of acronyms that newcomers can use to help get acquainted. Of course, it doesn't even have them all. Here are some more that might be of general interest (excuse the question marks... this is all from memory): AOA - Abort Once Around AOS - Acquisition Of Signal ATO - Abort To Orbit CCT - Crew Compartment Trainer (in bldg. 9A at JSC) FCR - Flight Control Room (the "Mission Control" you see on TV) FFT - Full Fuselage Trainer (in bldg. 9A at JSC) GPC - General Purpose Computer HAC - Heading and Alignment Circle IFM - In-Flight Maintenance (i.e.: replacing a GPC) LDEF - Long-Duration Exposure Facility (?) LOS - Loss Of Signal MECO - Main Engine CutOff MOC - Mission Operations Computer MPSR - Mission Planning and Support Room(s) (the Mission Control you don't see) MS - Mission Specialist (usually followed by a number: MS1, MS2, etc.) RMS - Remote Manipulator System---the arm (or maybe it's RMA) TAL - Trans-Atlantic Abort Landing (?) WETF - Weightless Environment Training Facility (my favorite NASA acronym: the WETF is a huge pool!) These aren't so much acronyms as they are abbreviations. You can hear these used by launch control prior to launch: CDR - CommanDeR PLT - PiLoT And here's an inverse acronym: "Candy Coated Chocolates" - M&M (I'm serious---that's what they call them.) William LeFebvre Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Northwestern University