A spacecraft prefix is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a spacecraft, and its purpose is often analogous to more conventional ship prefixes. This list does not include prefixes used on rockets, rocket launches, and spaceflights. Non-productive prefixes (e.g. CSS in CSS Skywalker) are also not included in the list.
Prefixes Prefix Meaning Purpose CM Command Module Used to denote individual Apollo command modules (e.g. CM Columbia). CSM Command and Service Module Used to denote individual Apollo command and service modules (e.g. CSM Columbia). DOS Long-duration Orbital Station Used to denote individual civilian Salyut stations (e.g. DOS-5) and Salyut-derived modules (e.g. DOS-8). LM Lunar Module Used to denote individual Apollo Lunar Modules (e.g. LM Eagle). OK Orbital Ship Used to denote individual Buran-class orbiters (e.g. OK-GLI). OPS Orbital Piloted Station Used to denote individual Almaz stations (e.g. OPS-3). OV Orbiter Vehicle Used to denote individual Space Shuttle orbiters (e.g. OV-102 Columbia). OTV Orbital Test Vehicle Used to denote X-37B vehicles and missions (e.g. OTV-1).RSSReusable Space ShipUsed to denote New Shepard vehicles and capsules (e.g. RSS H. G. Wells). VSS Virgin Space Ship Used to denote spaceplanes operated by Virgin Galactic (e.g. VSS Unity).S.S.Unknown (Space Ship?)Used by Northrop Grumman for Cygnus spacecraft (e.g. S.S. Kalpana Chawla).
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