Acronym list

A - B - C

A
A/D	Analog-to-Digital
AGGA	Advanced GPS GLONASS ASICs
AMI	Active Microwave Instruments
AMSU-A1/A2	Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
AOCS	Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem
ARGOS	A-DCS Advanced Data Collection System
ASCAT	Advanced Scatterometer
AVHRR	Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer

B
bps	bits per second

C
CBS	Standard Bus Coupler
CCSDS	Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems
CCU	Central Communication Unit
CDA	Command and Data Acquisition
CDEM	Continuous Dynode Electron Multiplier
CDHS	Control and Data Handling System
CDHU	Control and Data Handling Unit
CEOS	Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
CFRP	Carbon Fibre Re-inforced Plastic
CGS	Core Ground Segment
CIRA	Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
CLS	Collecte Localisation Satellites
CNES	Centre National d'Études Spatiales (National Centre of Space Studies)
CPDU	Command Pulse Direct Unit
CPU	Central Processing Unit
CRA	Combined Receive Antenna
CU	Calibration Unit

D
DBU	Digital Bus Unit
DCP	Data Collection Platform
DCS	Data Collection System Instrument
DLR	Deutsche Zentrum für Luft – und Raumfahrt (German Space Agency)
DM	Deployment Mechanism
DMMC	Downlink Message Management Centre
DMSP	Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
DND	Department of National Defence
DNMI	Norwegian Meteorological Institute
DPU	Digital Processing Unit
DRU	Data Recovery Unit
DSP	Digital Signal Processor

E
EAIM	Electronique des Actuateurs Inertiels et Magnétiques (Intertial and Magnetic Actuators Electronics)
ECPP	External Calibration Processor Prototype
ELT	Emergency Locator Transmitter
ENVISAT	Environmental Satellite
EPIRB	Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
EPRM	Electronique Propulsion et MEGS (= Propulsion and MEGS Electronics)
EPS	EUMETSAT Polar System
ERS	European Remote Sensing Satellite
ESA	European Space Agency
ESOC	European Space Operation Centre
ESTEC	European Space Research and Technology Centre
EUMETSAT	European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meterological Satellites

F
FMU	Formatting and Multiplexing Unit
FOV	Field of View
FPA	Focal-Plane Assembly
FTP	File Transfer Protocol
FWHM	Full Width Halve Maximum


G
GCOS	Global Climate Observing System
GDM	GAVA Deployment Mechanism
GEU	GRAS Electronics Unit
GMDSS	Global Maritime Distress Safety System
GOME-2	Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment 2
GPDU	GOME Power Distribution Unit
GPP	Ground Processor Prototype
GPS	Global Positioning System
GRAS	GNSS Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding
GTS	Global Telecommunication System
GUI	Graphical User Interface

H
HIRS/4	High Resolution Infra-Red Sounder 4
HPA	High Power Amplifier
HRM	Hold-down and Release Mechanisms
HRPT	High Resolution Picture Transmission
HV	High Voltage

I
IASI	Infra-Red Atmospheric Sounder Interferometer
ICUs	Instrument Control Units / Intelligent Control UNIT
IFARS	Institute for Applied Remote Sensing
IFC	In-Flight Calibrator
IFOV	Instantaneous Field of View / Instrument Field of View
IGBP	International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
IJPS	Initial Joint Polar System
IR	Infrared
IRF	Impulse Response Function

J

K
KNMI	Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut (Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute)

L
L1PP	Level 1b Processor Prototype
LCL	Latch Current Limiters
LEO	Low Earth Orbit
LEOLUT	LEOSAR system Local Users Terminal
LEOP	Launch and Early Orbit Phase
LHCP	Left Hand Circle Polarization
LRPT	Low Resolution Picture Transmission
LUT	Local Users Terminal

M
MAC	Magnetotorquers
MCC	Mission Control Centre
MEPED	Medium Energy Proton and Electron Detector
MetOp	METeorological Operational satellite
MGSE	Mechanical Ground Support Equipment
MHS	Microwave Humidity Sounder
MLI	Multi-Layer-Insulation
MPU	Microwave Humidity Sounder Protocol Conversion Unit
MTF	Modulation Transfer Function

N
NASA	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NEDD	Noise equivalent radiance
NEDT	Noise equivalent temperature difference
NESDIS	National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service
NIC	National Ice Center
NIU	NOAA Interface Unit
NOAA	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NPOESS	National Polar Operational Environmental Satellite System
NTG	Normalisation Table Generator
NWP	Numerical Weather Prediction

O
OBCT	On-Board Calibration Target
OBDH	On-Board Data Handling

P
PCU	Power Control Unit
PDU	Power Distribution Unit
PHD	Pulse Height Discriminator
PLB	Personal Locator Beacon
PLM	Payload Module
PMC	Payload Module Controller
POES	Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite
PTS	Point Target Simulator
PTTs	Platform Transmitters
PU	Polarisation unit

Q

R
RAMP-CAL	Ramp Calibration
RBI	Remote Bus Interface
RF	Radio Frequency
RFCU	Radio Frequency Conditioning Unit
RFU	Radio Frequency Unit
RHCP	Right Hand Circle Polarization
RPU	Receiver and Processing Unit
RSJD	Régulateur Shunt Jonction et Distribution (= distribution and shunt junction regulator)
RTU	Remote Terminal Unit
RW	Reaction Wheels

S
SA	Solar Array
SADM	Solar Array Drive mechanism
SAF	Satellite Application Facilities
SARP-3	Search and Rescue Processor 3
SARR	Search and Rescue Repeater
SEM	Space Environmental Monitoring
SEM	Space Environment Monitor
SESC	Space Environment Service Center
SFE	Scatterometer Front End
SMMS	Service Module Mechanical Subsystems
SSD	Senseur Solaire Digital (= Digital Sun Sensor)
SSPA	Solid State Power Amplifier
SSR	Solid State Recorder
STD	Senseur Stellaire (= Star tracker)
SU	Scan Unit
SUEA	Scan Unit Electronics Assembly
SUMA	Scan Unit Mechanical Assembly
SVM	Service Module
SWIR	Short wavelength infrared

T
TCU	Thermal Control Unit
TEC	Technical Expertise Centre
TED	Total Energy Detector
TIR	Thermal infrared
TIROS	Television Infrared Observation Satellite
TM/TC	Telemetry/Telecommands
TXU	Transmitter Unit

U
UDMH	Unsymmetrical dimethyl-hydrazine
UMARF	Unified Meteorological Archive and Retrieval Facility
USGS	United States Geological Survey
UV	Ultra Violet

V
VOLT-CAL	Voltage Calibration

W
WCRP	World Climate Research Program
WLS	White Light Source

X