Russia's state space agency, Roscosmos, is facing scrutiny over its long-delayed Orel crewed spacecraft, a project that has undergone multiple name changes and design shifts over the last two decades. The initiative originated from a partnership with the European Space Agency, where Europe was to supply a service module for a Russian-built capsule capable of carrying six passengers. Europe ultimately withdrew from the crewed component, leaving Roscosmos to develop the spacecraft independently.
The project has cycled through several official designations since its inception. It began in 2009 as PPTS, or the Prospective Piloted Transport System. By 2016, the technical designation had shifted to PTK NP, or New Generation Piloted Transport Ship. Following a public contest, the name Federatsiya was adopted in January 2016. In September 2019, while Dmitry Rogozin led Roscosmos, the project was renamed Orel, which translates to Eagle.
Despite nearly twenty years of development, the tangible progress of the Orel program remains unclear. Critics have described the effort as resembling a Potemkin village, prioritizing visual renderings over the construction of functional hardware. The primary question surrounding the mission is whether actual hardware tests are currently underway or if the project remains largely conceptual.