Federation (spacecraft)
Mockup and test article of the Federation crew module, photographed at the Moscow Air and Space Show in August 2015
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| Manufacturer | RKK Energia |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Russia |
| Operator | Roscosmos |
| Applications | Crew transportation to Low Earth orbit and to the Moon, possibly to Mars |
| Specifications | |
| Design life |
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| Launch mass | 17,000 kg (LEO)–21,367 kg (Moon) |
| Dry mass | 14,000 kg (crew module 9,500 kg, propulsion module 4,500 kg) |
| Crew capacity | 4–6 |
| Volume | 18 m3 |
| Regime | LEO, TLI, Lunar orbit |
| Production | |
| Status | In development |
Federation (Russian: Федерация, Federatsiya), formerly called PPTS (Prospective Piloted Transport System, Перспективная Пилотируемая Транспортная Система, Perspektivnaya Pilotiruemaya Transportnaya Sistema) is a project by Roscosmos to develop a new-generation, partially reusable piloted spacecraft.
Until 2016 its official name was Пилотируемый Транспортный Корабль Нового Поколения, Pilotiruemyi Transportny Korabl Novogo Pokoleniya or PTK NP meaning "New Generation Piloted Transport Ship". The goal of the project is to develop a new-generation spacecraft to replace the aging Soyuz spacecraft developed by the former Soviet Union to support low Earth orbit and lunar operations. It is similar in function to the American Orion spacecraft.
The PPTS project was started following the failed attempt by Russia and the European Space Agency to co-develop the Crew Space Transportation System (CSTS), which until the middle of 2006 was known as the ACTS. Following this the Russian Federal Space Agency ordered the local space industry to finalize proposals for the new manned spacecraft. A firm development contract was awarded to RKK Energia on December 19, 2013.
With NASA focused on its Orion spacecraft, which was a part of the Constellation Program, Russia turned to Europe as a prospective partner. Previously, ESA officials had inquired whether they could be part of the Constellation Program of the United States, but they had received a negative response. Consequently, Europe decided to join the Russians to co-develop a new-generation manned spacecraft. ESA insisted on a joint design rather than the Russian-designed Kliper, and as a result the joint Russian/European CSTS project came into being.
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