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.
| 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[1] | 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[2] | 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). | |
| RSS | Reusable Space Ship | Used to denote New Shepard vehicles and capsules (e.g. RSS H. G. Wells). | |
| VSS | Virgin Space Ship[3] | 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). |
