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| Orel (spacecraft) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Orel |
| Manufacturer | RKK Energia |
| Country | Russia |
| Operator | Roscosmos |
| Applications | Crewed transport, lunar missions, low Earth orbit |
| Status | In development |
| First | planned |
| Mass | ~14,000 kg (crewed variant) |
| Crew capacity | 4–6 |
| Launch vehicle | Angara A5V (planned) |
Orel (spacecraft) is a Russian crewed spacecraft developed by RKK Energia under contract to Roscosmos to replace the Soyuz for crew rotation to Low Earth Orbit and beyond, including planned lunar missions and deep space operations. The program emerged from earlier projects led by NPO Energia and was influenced by requirements from Roscosmos leadership, Russian industry partners such as TsNIIMash, and strategic directives issued during the presidency of Vladimir Putin. Orel aims to modernize Russian human spaceflight capability alongside initiatives like the International Space Station and potential cooperation with programs such as Lunar Gateway and bilateral agreements with agencies including NASA, European Space Agency, and China National Space Administration.
Development traces to concepts after the retirement of the Buran programme and parallel to designs like the Kliper and Feder proposals. Initial funding rounds were approved by the Russian government and coordinated with ministries including the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Russia), with key design work at RKK Energia influenced by engineers from S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia. The program underwent redesigns following reviews by the State Commission on Pilot-Managed Flights and technical assessments by TsAGI and Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute experts, with prototypes rolled out for structural testing at facilities in Moscow Oblast and flight-test campaigns planned from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome and Vostochny Cosmodrome. Geopolitical shifts, sanctions from European Union and United States authorities, and collaborations with entities such as Glavkosmos have affected timelines and supplier networks.
The spacecraft is a modular, partially reusable design featuring a crewed reentry module and an expendable service module, drawing heritage from the Soyuz and concepts from the Orion and Shenzhou families. Primary structure uses alloys and composites developed at TsNIIMash and Tula State University partners, with avionics derived from systems validated on Progress logistics vehicles and testbeds from Energiya-M. Power is supplied by solar arrays and batteries similar to systems produced by NPZ and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center affiliates. Propulsion uses storable hypergolic engines from the KB KhIMMASH tradition and may incorporate liquid oxygen/kerosene stages developed by NPO Energomash for translunar injection segments. Mass properties, aerodynamic coefficients, and thermal protection materials have been validated in wind tunnels at TsAGI and thermal vacuum facilities at Central Research Institute of Machine Building.
Orel is intended for crewed transport to Low Earth Orbit, cargo runs to International Space Station, autonomous and crewed lunar missions including lunar orbit rendezvous, and potential use in deep space missions coordinated with Roscosmos strategic plans. Baseline mission profiles include crewed ascent, long-duration free-flight operations, docking with space stations—compatibility with International Docking System Standard influenced by negotiations with NASA—and reentry trajectories for abort scenarios studied alongside Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre specialists. Planned test campaigns include uncrewed orbital tests, in-flight abort demonstrations, and crewed flights with experienced cosmonauts from Yuri Gagarin era training programs. Mission planning incorporates ground segments at TsUP and navigation support from GLONASS and potential cross-use of Ground Segment assets.
Primary launch plans center on heavy-lift vehicles developed by Khrunichev and Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau, with the Angara A5V frequently cited as the intended launcher for crewed Orel flights. Alternate launch options evaluated include upgraded variants of the Proton-M and bespoke super-heavy concepts under discussion at Roskosmos panels. Ground support infrastructure upgrades have been financed for Vostochny Cosmodrome and modifications to launch pads at Plesetsk and Baikonur Cosmodrome through coordination with Roscosmos and regional authorities. Integration, fueling, and mission control workflows are built on processes refined during Soyuz operations and heavy-lift campaigns such as those for the Mir program and commercial launches for companies like OneWeb partners in Russia.
Crew safety systems draw on decades of human spaceflight heritage from Soyuz and international platforms, including launch escape systems, redundant flight-control computers, and parachute and airbag technologies tested in cooperation with specialists from MAI and Institut of Space Medicine. Life support architecture covers atmospheric control, carbon dioxide scrubbing, water reclamation, and crew accommodations designed by teams that previously worked on Salyut modules and Mir environmental control subsystems. Medical monitoring follows protocols issued by the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) and cosmonaut training procedures at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, while failure modes and effects analyses were performed with input from institutions like Moscow State University and industry testing at Central Research Institute of Machine Building facilities.
Orel’s development has involved dialogues with international partners including NASA, European Space Agency, and China National Space Administration over common standards, potential joint missions, and technology exchange constrained by export controls and sanctions. Collaborative efforts have included discussions on docking interfaces, life support interoperability, and participation in multinational lunar architectures such as concepts related to the Artemis program and Lunar Gateway. As of the latest program reviews, the spacecraft remains in advanced development with uncrewed test flights planned, funding subject to annual Russian federal budgets, and timelines adjusted amid industrial challenges and geopolitical factors. Continued progress depends on decisions by Roscosmos leadership, executive orders by the President of Russia, and cooperation with domestic suppliers like RKK Energia, NPO Energomash, and Khrunichev.
Category:Crewed spacecraft Category:Russian spacecraft