Acronyms

> Greetings:
> I've been off line for a while (122 SSI messages worth) as I've
> shifted from a '97 vintage PC system and Windows '98 SE, to a new PC
> with
> Window XP. (I much prefer my old '486 with DOS 3.1 Windows, bullet
> proof
> and it never, ever failed me.)
> Does the SSI List Group keep an Acronym File somewhere? I got
> through LEO, NEO and such with patience over time. Where did CATS come
> from? NEA? TPS (something to do with Thermal Protection for
> reentry...ah, maybe Thermal Protection Systems)?

There should be such a list somewhere. In fact I think there is a
frequently seen acronyms file for the sci.space.* Usenet hierarchy. LEO
is low earth orbit, NEA is near earth asteroid (alternatively "object,"
leading to NEO). CATS is Cheap Access To Space, TPS is Thermal
Protection System. Other acronyms that show up from time to time are
GTO (geostationary transfer orbit), HEEO (highly elliptical earth
orbit), GEO (GEostationary Orbit), LOX (Liquid OXygen), and PGM
(platinum group metals).

Then there are a whole bunch that refer to specific spacecraft and
missions. I googled up the acronym FAQ - it's here:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/space/acronyms/>

hope this helps
......Andrew