| ARL | Army Research Laboratory |
| CTC | Center Technology Council |
| DOD | Department of Defense |
| DRM | design reference mission |
| ECLSS | environmental control and life support system |
| EDL | entry, descent, and landing |
| EVA | extravehicular activity |
| FDIR | fault detection, isolation, and recovery |
| GCR | galactic cosmic rays |
| GN&C | guidance, navigation, and control |
| ISRU | in situ resource utilization |
| ISS | International Space Station |
| NASA | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| NRC | National Research Council |
| NTEC | NASA Technology Executive Council |
| OCT | Office of the Chief Technologist |
| OIG | Office of the Inspector General |
| QFD | quality function deployment |
| RBCC | rocket-based combined cycle |
| SLS | Space Launch System |
| SPE | solar particle event |
| SSTIP | Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan |
| TA | technology area |
| TABS | Technology Area Breakdown Structure |
| TBCC | turbine-based combined cycle |
| TPS | thermal protection systems |
| TRL | technology readiness level |