The concept of short-time stability finds application in missile and satellite systems where operating times are often of finite duration. Short-time stability assures, in a finite time interval, that all inputs bounded by a prescribed constant Greek epsilon result in outputs bounded by a second prescribed constant. The study of short-time stability is divided into two categories: undriven systems and driven systems. Undriven systems are represented by a set of differential equations. Sufficient conditions for short-time stability are given in terms of the coefficients. Driven systems are represented by their impulse response. A necessary and sufficient condition for short-time stability in driven systems is given directly in terms of impulse response. Sufficient conditions for short-time stability in feedback systems, in terms of the open loop impulse response are also included. In addition the concept of shorttime C-equivalence, essentially a structural stability concept, is introduced. Necessary and sufficient conditions for two systems to be short-time C-equivalent are presented. (Author).