Terminology followup...

[alexpgp]

It would appear that РН and РКН are basically the same thing: LV, or launch vehicle.

РКК, on the other hand, denotes a ракетно-космический комплекс (literally, a "rocket and space complex"). The world "complex" in technical Russian is one of those catch-all words that doesn't really mean much, sort of like "unit" in English.

Unfortunately, "complex" has a second, more common meaning in English, so that while one might tread safely with "launch complex," things get dicey when "complex" becomes part of a modifier, as in "onboard complex control system" (meaning "the control system for the onboard complex" as opposed to the "complex control system that's on board").

I'm babbling, sorry.

So, how to render РКК in English? space-rocket complex? facility? package? unit?

I'll have to sleep on it.

Cheers...

Comments

[apollo14.livejournal.com]

I would say "unit"

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I've added some clarification in a response to another comment, but it's wa-a-a-y too early to start thinking about work (there is not enough coffee in my blood).

BTW, you might be interested in knowing I'll be visiting Ukraine in the near future!

Cheers...

[apollo14.livejournal.com]

If everything is OK, I'm going to Kiev on 18-26 of October for a film festival.
You are going there somewhere in the middle of October, don't you?

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

Yes. I'll drop you more info via email.

Cheers...

[grosh.livejournal.com]

Well, if it possible try to compare РКК (at Leninsk may be, but there it shuold be various: for Soyuz, for Proton, for Energia an so on :)) with same facility with LV in american space buisness (at Cape Canaveral may be). 'Space launch facility' or 'space launch structure'? 'Launch pad w. LV' together?

Good luck!

[alexpgp.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

A key piece of information that I haven't stated - because it didn't occur to me - is that the thing that is the РКК is of the same name as the РН, e.g., there is a РН Протон and a РКК Протон.

The same can be said for the Циклон and Рокот, BTW.

So the term apparently does not refer to a facility (that would be easy), but - and I am improvising here - to concept that encompasses something more than just the LV.

...I need coffee.

Cheers...