| AA | accelerometer assembly |
| ac | alternating current |
| ACCU | audio central control unit |
| ADI | attitude direction indicator |
| ADS | audio distribution system |
| ADTA | air data transducer assembly |
| ADU | annunciator display unit |
| AID | analog input differential |
| AIS | analog input single-ended |
| AMI | alpha/ Mach indicator |
| AOD | analog output differential |
| APU | auxiliary power unit |
| ASA | aeroservoamplifier |
| ATC | air traffic control |
| ATU | audio terminal unit |
| ATVC | ascent thrust vector control (driver assembly) |
| AVVI | altitude/vertical velocity indicator |
| BCE | bus control element |
| BCH | Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghen (code) |
| BFC | backup flight controller |
| BFS | backup flight control system |
| BITE | built-in test equipment |
| bps | bits per second |
| BTU | bus terminal unit |
| BW | bandwidth |
| C&T | communication(s) and tracking |
| C&W | caution and warning |
| CIA | controller interface adapter |
| comsec | communications security |
| CPU | central processing unit |
| CRT | cathode-ray tube |
| D&C | display(s) and control(s) |
| dB | decibel |
| DBC | data bus coupler |
| DBIA | data bus isolation amplifier |
| dc | direct current |
| DDU | display driver unit |
| deg | degree |
| DEU | display electronics unit |
| DIH | discrete input high |
| DIL | discrete input low |
| DISP | display function |
| DK | display keyboard |
| DOD | Department of Defense |
| DOH | discrete output high |
| DOL | discrete output low |
| DPS | data processing system |
| DSC | dedicated signal conditioner |
| DSN | Deep Space Network |
| DU | display unit |
| EADI | electronic attitude and directional indicator |
| ECS | environmental control system |
| EIU | engine interface unit |
| EMU | extravehicular maneuvering unit |
| EPDC | electrical power distribution and control (system) |
| ET | external tank |
| EVA | extravehicular activity |
| FAA | Federal Aviation Administration |
| FCOS | flight computer operating system |
| FDA | fault detection and annunciation |
| FDI | fault detection and identification |
| FDIR | fault detection, isolation, and reconfiguration |
| FDM | frequency-division multiplexer |
| FM | frequency modulation |
| FO/FS | fail operational/fail safe |
| FRT | flight readiness test |
| ft | foot |
| GCA | ground-controlled approach |
| GCIL | ground command interface logic |
| GN&C | guidance, navigation, and control |
| GNC | guidance, navigation, and control MF |
| GPC | general-purpose computer |
| GPS | Global Positioning System |
| GSE | ground support equipment |
| GSTDN | Ground Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network |
| HAL/S | high-order software language for Shuttle |
| hemi | hemispherical |
| HLD | hybrid load driver |
| HSI | horizontal situation indicator |
| HUD | heads-up display |
| I/F | interface |
| I/O | input/output |
| ID | identification |
| IDCA | inverter distribution and control assembly |
| ILS | Instrument Landing System |
| IMU | inertial measurement unit |
| IOM | input/output module |
| lOP | input/output processor |
| kbps | kilobits per second |
| KBU | keyboard unit |
| km | kilometer |
| LCA | load control assembly |
| LPS | launch processing system |
| LRU | line-replaceable unit |
| m | meter |
| Mbps | megabits per second |
| MCA | motor control assembly |
| MCDS | multifunctional CRT display system |
| MCIU | manipulator controller interface unit |
| MDA | main distribution assembly |
| MDM | multiplexer/demultiplexer |
| MEC | master events controller |
| MECO | main engine cutoff |
| MF | major function |
| MHz | megahertz |
| MIA | multiplexer interface adapter |
| MM | mass memory |
| MMU | mass memory unit |
| MSBLS | microwave scanning beam landing system |
| MTU | master timing unit |
| navaid | navigation aid |
| n. mi. | nautical mile |
| NRZ | nonreturn to zero |
| NSP | network signal processor |
| OI | operational instrumentation |
| OMS | orbital maneuvering system |
| OPS | operational sequence |
| P/L | payload |
| PASS | primary avionics system software |
| PCA | power control assembly |
| PCM | pulse code modulation |
| PCMMU | PCM master unit |
| PDI | payload data interleaver |
| PI | payload interrogator |
| PIC | pyrotechnic initiator controller |
| PL | payload MF |
| PM | phase modulation |
| PN | pseudorandom noise |
| PROM | programmable read only memory |
| PRS | precision ranging system |
| PSDP | payload station distribution panel |
| PSK | phase-shift keying |
| PSP | payload signal processor |
| quad | quadrantal |
| RCS | reaction control system |
| RF | radiofrequency |
| RGA | rate gyro assembly |
| RHC | rotational hand controller |
| RJDA | reaction jet driver aft |
| RJDF | reaction jet driver forward |
| RM | redundancy management |
| RMS | remote manipulator system |
| RPC | remote power controller |
| RPTA | rudder pedal transducer assembly |
| RTC | real-time command |
| SBTC | speed brake thrust controller |
| SCM | subsystem configuration management |
| SCU | sequence control unit |
| sec | second |
| SGLS | Space Ground Link System |
| SIO | serial input/output |
| SM | system management MF |
| SMM | subsystem measurement management |
| SPEC | specialist function |
| SRB | solid rocket booster |
| SSME | Space Shuttle main engine |
| synch | synchronization |
| T-0 | time zero |
| tacan | tactical air navigation (system) |
| TAEM | terminal area energy management |
| TCS | test control supervisor |
| TDM | time-division multiplexing |
| TDRS | Tracking and Data Relay Satellite |
| THC | translational hand controller |
| TV | television |
| TVC | thrust vector control |
| UHF | ultrahigh frequency |
| USAF | U.S. Air Force |
| VU | vehicle utility |
| WBSC | wide-band signal conditioner |
