launch site; launch base
Refers to a facility from which missiles, rockets, or spacecraft are launched. Often used in military, space, and news contexts.
It was reported that North Korea is constructing a new missile launch site.
The rocket was launched from the launch site on Tanegashima.
発射台 is a launch pad (the physical platform), while 発射基地 is the broader launch site or base.
打ち上げ基地 is a more general term for a launch base, often used for rockets and spacecraft, while 発射基地 is commonly used for missiles as well.
Compound of 発射 (launch, firing) and 基地 (base, site). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows standard Sino-Japanese word formation patterns.