Abbreviations and acronyms

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This page lists many abbreviations, acronyms and initialisms that are used frequently to communicate more quickly, but can confuse new players or players who are not familiar with them.

AGU
Advanced Grabbing Unit.
Ap
Apoapsis, highest point in an orbit.
CM
Command Module, a transfer ship that delivers a Lander Module to orbit around some body, then waits there and takes it completely or only the crew home again. Not to be confused with command modules.
CoL, COL
Center of Lift.
CoM, COM
Center of Mass.
CoT, COT
Center of Thrust.
dV, Δv
Delta-V, a measure of the ship's propulsive energy.
EC
Electric charge, a resource that is used to operate various parts.
Ecc
Eccentricity, how circular an orbit is.
EVA
Extra-Vehicular Activity - Making Kerbals leave the craft for spacewalks, landings, etc.
GSO
Geosynchronous Orbit, an orbit with the same orbital period as Kerbin.
GUI
Graphical User Interface.
HKO
High Kerbin Orbit, an orbit around Kerbin higher than 2863.33 km.
HSC
Hitchhiker Storage Container - The PPD-10 Hitchhiker Storage Container.
IA
Intake air, a fuel resource that is used by jet engines.
Inc
Inclination, tilt of an orbit.
ISP, Isp, Isp
Specific impulse, more accurately Isp but that's hard to do on the forum. A measure of rocket engine efficiency, usually given in seconds. The higher the value, the more efficient the engine.
IVA
Intra-Vehicular Activity - The point of view of an individual Kerbal inside the command module.
KEO
Kerbisynchronous Equatorial Orbit, and orbit with the same orbital period as Kerbin and with an inclination of 0°.
KSC
Kerbal Space Center.
KSP
Kerbal Space Program.
LES
Launch Escape System.
LF
Liquid fuel, a fuel resource that is used by engines.
LFB
Liquid Fuel Booster - like the LFB KR-1x2.
LFO
Liquid Fuel/Oxidizer, commonly used for fuel tanks that contain Liquid fuel and Oxidizer.
LKO
Low Kerbin Orbit, an orbit around Kerbin between 70-200 km.
LM
Lander Module, paired with a Command Module and which lands on the body.
LMB
Left Mouse Button.
LMC
Left Mouse Click.
MC
Mission Control.
Mono
Monopropellant, a fuel resource that is used for powering RCS thrusters.
Ox
Oxidizer, a fuel resource that is used by rocket engines.
Pe
Periapsis, lowest point in an orbit.
R&D
Research and Development.
RCS
Reaction Control System.
RMB
Right Mouse Button.
RMC
Right Mouse Click.
RTG
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator.
RUD
Rapid, Unplanned Disassembly. Usually happens when there are not enough struts or it collides with something. See also catastrophic failure.
SA
Subassembly (in VAB/SPH).
SAS
Stability Augmentation System or (jokingly) Sickness Avoidance Solution/Scheme/System.
SF
Solid fuel, a fuel resource that is used by Solid rocket boosters.
SMA
Semi-major axis.
SoI, SOI
Sphere of influence, which are the frames of reference. The trajectory in the current sphere of influence is shown blue on the map view.
SPH
Space Plane Hangar.
SRB
Solid Rocket Booster.
SSTO
Single-Stage-To-Orbit, a craft that can reach orbit with only one stage.
TSTO
Two-Stage-To-Orbit, a craft that can reach orbit with only jettisoning one stage so two stages.
TVC
Thrust Vector Control.
TWR
Thrust-to-weight ratio, must be greater than 1 to overcome gravity, unless already in space.
VAB
Vehicle Assembly Building.
VTOL
Vertical TakeOff and Landing.
Xe
Xenon gas, a fuel resource that powers ion engines.

See also