Names of Russian/Soviet rockets and spacecraft

[William Graham]

Following the recent discussion during the launch of Sentinel-3B, I thought it would be useful to create a translation/transliteration guide for Russian and Soviet spacecraft and rocket names to promote consistency and accuracy.

The names below are transliterated from the original Cyrillic through the widely-used BGN/PCGN standard for romanising the Cyrillic alphabet. See Wikipedia for more information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BGN/PCGN_romanization_of_Russian.

This list is by no means complete - at present I have focused on current and common names - if it proves to be a useful resource further entries can be added. Please post additions and corrections.

There are also some outstanding questions that I have not yet attempted to resolve and would welcome input on:
For vehicles originating in the Ukrainian SSSR, should the rules for converting from Russian to Engish, or Ukrainian to English, be applied where the results differ (e.g. Циклон becomes Tsiklon under the Russian rules, but Tsyklon under the Ukrainian rules).


Where a translation is enclosed in square brackets, this is a literal translation of a name with a more specific meaning - see notes for context.

Original Cyrillic	Transliteration	Translation	Notes
Алмаз	Almaz	diamond	spacecraft (e.g. Almaz-T) and space station
Ангара	Angara	Angara	rocket (e.g. Angara-A5); after the Angara river
Аракс	Araks	Araks	spacecraft (e.g. Araks-N); after the Araks river
Барс	Bars	leopard, panther	spacecraft (e.g. Bars-M)
Благовест	Blagovest	[good news]*	spacecraft; *name refers to a type of bell peal in the Russian Orthodox church
Блок	Blok	block, unit	stage (e.g. Blok-A, Blok-DM)
Бион	Bion	?	spacecraft
Бриз	Briz	breeze	upper stage (e.g. Briz-M); "Breeze" sometimes used in English
Днепр	Dnepr	Dnepr	rocket, also Дніпро/"Dnipro" from Ukrainian but rare in English; after the Dnepr river
Электро	Elektro	electro-	spacecraft (e.g. Elektro-L)
Электрон	Elektron	electron	spacecraft and ISS life support system
Энергия	Energiya	energy	rocket; "Energia" often used in English
Эталон	Etalon	reference	spacecraft
Федерация	Federatsiya	federation	spacecraft
Феникс	Feniks	phoenix	spacecraft; also known as Yantar-2K
Фобос	Fobos	Phobos	spacecraft; after the moon of Mars
Фобос-Грунт	Fobos-Grunt	Phobos soil, Phobos ground	spacecraft; "Phobos-Grunt" has been used in English but is a bad mistranslation
Фотон	Foton	photon	spacecraft
Фрегат	Fregat	frigate	upper stage
Гарпун	Garpun	harpoon	spacecraft
Гео	Geo	geo-	spacecraft (e.g. Geo-IK-2)
Гонец	Gonets	messenger, courier	spacecraft (e.g. Gonets-M)
Канопус	Kanopus	Canopus	spacecraft (e.g. Kanopus-V); after the star
Клипер	Kliper	clipper	spacecraft (cancelled)
Кобальт	Kobal't	cobalt	spacecraft (e.g. Kobal't-M); also known as Yantar-4K2/4K2M
Кольцо	Kol'tso	ring	spacecraft
Комета	Kometa	comet	spacecraft; also known as Yantar-1KFT or Siluet
Кондор	Kondor	condor	spacecraft
Космос	Kosmos	cosmos, space	rocket (e.g. Kosmos-3M) and spacecraft (military designation system); "Cosmos" sometimes used in English
Лотос	Lotos	lotus	spacecraft (e.g. Lotos-S)
Луч	Luch	beam, ray	spacecraft
Луна	Luna	Moon	rocket and spacecraft; after the Moon
Марс	Mars	Mars	spacecraft; after the planet
Метеор	Meteor	[meteor]*	spacecraft (e.g. Meteor-M); *name refers to the streak of light, not the meteor itself
Мир	Mir	peace, world	space station
Молния	Molniya	lightning	rocket and spacecraft
Муссон	Musson	monsoon	spacecraft; also known as Geo-IK
Наука	Nauka	science	ISS module
Неман	Neman	Neman	spacecraft; after the river Neman
Обзор	Obzor	overview	spacecraft
Океан	Okean	ocean	spacecraft
Око	Oko	eye	programme; uses US-K/KM/KMO satellites
Октан	Oktan	octane	spacecraft; also known as Yantar-4K1
Орлец	Orlets	red quartz	spacecraft
Парус	Parus	sail	spacecraft
Плазма	Plazma	plasma	spacecraft (e.g. Plazma-A)
Персона	Persona	person	spacecraft
Поиск	Poisk	search	ISS module
Поток	Potok	flow, stream	spacecraft: also known as Geizer
Пирс	Pirs	pier	ISS module
Прогресс	Progress	progress	spacecraft (e.g. Progress-MS)
Прогноз	Prognoz	forecast	spacecraft
Протон	Proton	proton	rocket (e.g. Proton-M) and spacecraft
Рассвет	Rassvet	dawn	ISS module
Ресурс	Resurs	resource	spacecraft (e.g. Resurs-P)
Родник	Rodnik	spring	spacecraft (e.g. Rodnik-S)
Рокот	Rokot	rumble	rocket; also transliterated "Rockot" by German Eurockot, which is common in English use
Ромб	Romb	rhombus	spacecraft
Салют	Salyut	salute	space station
Силуэт	Siluet	silhouette	spacecraft; also known as Yantar-1KFT or Kometa
Союз	Soyuz	union	rocket (e.g. Soyuz-2-1a) and spacecraft (e.g. Soyuz-MS); "Soyouz" (from French) used rarely in English
Спутник	Sputnik	companion, satellite*	rocket and spacecraft; name originally meant "companion", but has come to mean "satellite"
Стрела	Strela	arrow	rocket and spacecraft (e.g. Strela-3M)
Терилен	Terilen	?	spacecraft; also known as Yantar-4KS1
Целина	Tselina	[new soil]*	spacecraft; *name refers to land not previously used to grow crops
Цикада	Tsikada	cicada	spacecraft
Тундра	Tundra	tundra	spacecraft; also known as EKS
Ураган	Uragan	hurricane	spacecraft (e.g. Uragan-M); also known as Glonass
Венера	Venera	Venus	spacecraft; after the planet
Волга	Volga	Volga	upper stage; after the Volga river
Восход	Voskhod	sunrise	rocket and spacecraft
Восток	Vostok	east	rocket (e.g. Vostok-K) and spacecraft
Янтарь	Yantar'	amber	spacecraft (e.g. Yantar-4K2M)
Заря	Zarya	dawn, beginning	ISS module
Зенит ЗенітUKR	Zenit	zenith	rocket (e.g. Zenit-3SL) and spacecraft
Зонд	Zond	probe	spacecraft
Звезда	Zvezda	star	ISS module and spacecraft

[Phillip Clark]

"Mir" can also be translated as "commune", which I find highly appropriate for a space station.

Isn't "Gonets" "messenger" in English?

[nsn]

"Mir" can also be translated as "commune", which I find highly appropriate for a space station.

Yes, but this meaning is archaic, it remains only in sayings like "всем миром" - [to do something] all together.

Isn't "Gonets" "messenger" in English?

Not just any messenger, but a courier.

"Blagovest" is not a good news, but a specific church bell ringing.

While "rassvet" basically refers to a time of the day, "zarya" also has figurative meaning "the beginning".

"Tselina" is the grounds that were never before used for growing crops (especially in the steppes).

[smoliarm]

Ok, here is my dime for the topic.

1.

Ангара   Angara   Angara   rocket (e.g. Angara-A5); after the Angara river
Аракс   Araks   ?   spacecraft (e.g. Araks-N)

- Аракс (Araks) is a river, just like Angara in the previous line
It is the second longest river in Armenia, also it was the border between former USSR and Iran.

2.
Благовест (Blagovest) - it should not be translated as "good news", although it is close to literal meaning in Old Slavic.
In modern Russian "Благовест" means church bells signalling beginning of holiday service.

3.

Гео-ИК   Geo-IK   ?

"Гео" here is just prefix "Geo" (like in Geology), and "ИК" stands for "Инфра-Красный" which is "Infra-Red"

4.

Орлец   Orlets   ?

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9E%D1%80%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%86_(%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%91%D1%80)
This name (most likely) refers to round tapestry with an eagle.
Typically it was a symbol of highest rank in Russian Orthodox Church.

And the last but not the least:
I would not advise to go deep in problems of Russian and Ukranian transliteration.
Instead I'd advise to use whatever name is in use in common DATABASES (like by Gunter Krebs or Ed Kyle).
What is good for them - is good for us

[Steven Pietrobon]

What about Федерация (Federatsiya), the new Russian crewed spacecraft?

Extending from this, the rocket commonly known as Dnepr has different Cyrillic names in Russian and Ukraine -  Днепр ("Dnepr") and Дніпро ("Dnipro") respectively. Dnepr was a Russian-led project, but used Ukrainian hardware, so should the Russian or Ukrainian name be used? This is further complicated as the rocket was developed after Ukrainian independence, but using Soviet-era hardware.

I think we should stick with the Russian transliteration to avoid confusion. Has anyone ever used Dnipro?

[nsn]

I think we should stick with the Russian transliteration to avoid confusion.

Just to clarify the terminology, term "Russian transliteration" is somewhat incorrect. This is actually English transliteration of Russian (or Ukrainian) words. And it can be different from German, French, Spanish, etc. transliteration.

[Phillip Clark]

I have always wondered whether "Meteor" is actually referring to the thing that burns up in the Earth's atmosphere or whether it relates to the satellite series being for meteor-ological purposes.

[Kryten]

Is Fregat intended to invoke the type of ship, or the Frigatebird?

[Phillip Clark]

I think we should stick with the Russian transliteration to avoid confusion. Has anyone ever used Dnipro?

Agreed.   There is already too much confusion in the world.

[Archibald]

How about ZOND ?

[Phillip Clark]

How about ZOND ?

"Probe".

[eeergo]

I think we should stick with the Russian transliteration to avoid confusion.

Just to clarify the terminology, term "Russian transliteration" is somewhat incorrect. This is actually English transliteration of Russian (or Ukrainian) words. And it can be different from German, French, Spanish, etc. transliteration.

True: in a recent tweet, Spanish astronaut Pedro Duque transliterated Soyuz in Spanish as "Saiús", which is the closest way the word "union" in Russian is pronounced, and far away from the way NASA commentators ("SOH-yus") pronounce it in English. In my opinion though, the transliteration should be a one-to-one map to letters, not of pronunciations depending on the letter's position (you don't do that to other languages written in Latin characters), so I'd argue for it to be kept at "Soiús" while keeping in mind Russian pronunciation rules for non-stressed "o"s.[/size]


Another example of different transliterations than the "standard" anglophonic system that gets copied around is the company "Khrunichev", which in Spanish should be correctly transliterated as "Jrúnichev", since the "kh" is supposed to transliterate in English (although people tend to just pronounce a "k") the sound that in Spanish is encoded by the "j".

[Bob Shaw]

Electron, Proton, Kliper...

[William Graham]

What about Федерация (Federatsiya), the new Russian crewed spacecraft?

Extending from this, the rocket commonly known as Dnepr has different Cyrillic names in Russian and Ukraine -  Днепр ("Dnepr") and Дніпро ("Dnipro") respectively. Dnepr was a Russian-led project, but used Ukrainian hardware, so should the Russian or Ukrainian name be used? This is further complicated as the rocket was developed after Ukrainian independence, but using Soviet-era hardware.

I think we should stick with the Russian transliteration to avoid confusion. Has anyone ever used Dnipro?

I think I've seen Dnipro once in English, if I recall correctly it was on Wikipedia and I actually went to the trouble to change it to Dnepr. I don't like the idea of calling it Dnipro - the question is if Yuzhnoye Yuzhmash call it Дніпро in Ukrainian, should we be using that version in English - in line with a consistent approach to other rockets?

I would not advise to go deep in problems of Russian and Ukranian transliteration.
Instead I'd advise to use whatever name is in use in common DATABASES (like by Gunter Krebs or Ed Kyle).
What is good for them - is good for us

I agree with the logic behind this viewpoint, but I am hoping to find a set of names with a consistent rationale for using them, rather than accepting what is common elsewhere. There are also situations where the existing sources disagree - for example Циклон: Gunter uses the transliteration from Russian, "Tsiklon", whereas Ed Kyle uses "Tsyklon", the transliteration from Ukrainian.

[nsn]

I don't like the idea of calling it Dnipro - the question is if Yuzhnoye call it Дніпро in Ukrainian

No, it doesn't. Here is their own web page in Ukrainian: http://www.yuzhnoye.com/ua/technique/launch-vehicles/rockets/dnepr/

But the crazy thing is, they quite officially call the company itself Конструкторське бюро «Південне» in Ukrainian (literally Design Bureau "Southern"), which is very different phonetically from the Russian name.

[William Graham]

I don't like the idea of calling it Dnipro - the question is if Yuzhnoye call it Дніпро in Ukrainian

No, it doesn't. Here is their own web page in Ukrainian: http://www.yuzhnoye.com/ua/technique/launch-vehicles/rockets/dnepr/

But the crazy thing is, they quite officially call the company itself Конструкторське бюро «Південне» in Ukrainian (literally Design Bureau "Southern"), which is very different phonetically from the Russian name.

Apologies, it was actually Yuzhmash I was thinking of: http://www.yuzhmash.com/production/index/rocket?id=3

The fact that Yuzhnoye and Yuzhmash call it different things makes me lean further towards using Dnepr.

[deruch]

I have always wondered whether "Meteor" is actually referring to the thing that burns up in the Earth's atmosphere or whether it relates to the satellite series being for meteor-ological purposes.

While not having any idea on the intent of the namers as to what it refers, I wanted to give a slight correction (as I just recently learned this) that the word "meteor" doesn't refer to the object that is burning up but rather just to the streak/flash of light. Source

[Liss]

Orlets has another meaning which was actually meant in 1970s when the project started and when no use of Christian terminology in naming military systems was possible. It's a kind of gem, red quartz (камень темно розового или красного цвета, красный кварц).

[William Graham]

Extending from this, the rocket commonly known as Dnepr has different Cyrillic names in Russian and Ukraine -  Днепр ("Dnepr") and Дніпро ("Dnipro") respectively. Dnepr was a Russian-led project, but used Ukrainian hardware, so should the Russian or Ukrainian name be used? This is further complicated as the rocket was developed after Ukrainian independence, but using Soviet-era hardware.

I've added Dnepr using the Russian spelling, since even Yuzhnoye use that spelling.

With the Soviet-era rockets that were built in the Ukrainian SSR, I am leaning towards using the Ukrainian transliteration as this will allow us to be consistent if new versions are developed or the names are re-used for later projects (e.g. Tsyklon-4). Any thoughts?