Roscosmos, the Russian state space corporation, is moving forward with the development of its next-generation crewed spacecraft, now officially referred to as PTK NP. The project, which has been in development for nearly two decades, aims to replace the current Soyuz vehicle for missions to low-Earth orbit and lunar exploration.
Dmitry Bakanov, the current chief executive of Roscosmos, announced that testing of the spacecraft's parachute system is scheduled to commence this fall in the Far East. Additionally, the agency plans to conduct tests of emergency rescue modes on the launch pad later this year, followed by trials in the zone of maximum dynamic pressures in 2027.
While the exact nature of the test hardware remains unspecified, these upcoming evaluations represent a shift toward flight-ready development. Officials currently target a debut crewed launch between 2028 and 2029, with the Angara A5M rocket identified as the likely launch vehicle for the mission.
