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"

[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!