Russia's Roskosmos to spend $915 million on new Federation spacecraft
Roskosmos will spend $915 million to create the first flight model for the new generation of manned spacecraft, "the Federation". This amount was named on the public procurement website. The federal budget of the Russian Federation is indicated as a source of funding.
The project consists of the development of the “Federation” manned transport spacecraft for flight “into and beyond the Earth orbit, including to the moon.” Interfax news agency published excerpts from the tender documents on Saturday, October 1. Among other things, it is expected that the Federation will be used for an unmanned flight into orbit in 2021, and unmanned and manned missions to the International Space Station in 2023. In addition, work on the creation of the second ship of the Federation series will be started.
The ship will be able to carry up to four people in addition to cargo. The Federation will be able to stay in autonomous flight mode for up to 30 days and as part of the space station, for up to 12 months. The term of the contract is scheduled through November 2025.
According to forecasts stated by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia on September 22, the country’s budget for the years 2016-2019 will include a deficit; the reserves will need to be spent; loans will have to be made domestically and abroad; and privatizations will be conducted.