launch area vs launching pad

launch area and launching pad both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
launch area	Yes	No	No	No
launching pad	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, launch area and launching pad are synonyms defined as:

launch area and launching pad: a platform from which rockets or space craft are launched

Other synonyms of launch area include launch pad, launchpad, pad.

launch area (noun)	launching pad (noun)
a platform from which rockets or space craft are launched	a platform from which rockets or space craft are launched