rocket launching vs launching

rocket launching and launching both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
rocket launching	Yes	No	No	No
launching	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, launching is a hypernym of rocket launching; that is, launching is a word with a broader meaning than rocket launching:

Other hypernyms of rocket launching include launch.

rocket launching (noun)	launching (noun)
the launching of a rocket or missile under its own power	the act of propelling with force
	the act of beginning something new
	the act of moving a newly built vessel into the water for the first time