List of Acronyms
AIAA
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
CCD
charge-coupled device
CIS
Commonwealth of Independent States
COBE
Cosmic Background Explorer
COPUOS
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
EOL
end of life
ESA
European Space Agency
EURECA
European Retrievable Carrier
GEO
geosynchronous Earth orbit
GOES
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
GTO
geostationary transfer orbit
HAX
Haystack auxiliary radar
HEO
high Earth orbit
IAA
International Academy of Astronautics
IADC
Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee
ILA
International Law Association
LDEF
Long Duration Exposure Facility
LEO
low Earth orbit
LIDAR
light detection and ranging
MLI
multilayer insulation
MSX
Midcourse Space Experiment
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NRC
National Research Council
ODERACS
Orbital Debris Radar Calibration Spheres
RCS
radar cross section