Russia says its long-delayed crewed spacecraft is now a reusable transport system

Russia says it now has a "promising, reusable manned transport spacecraft," according to officials, providing an update on a crewed spacecraft program that has faced significant delays.

The spacecraft has been in development for years as Russia has sought to modernize its crewed spaceflight capabilities, though the program has repeatedly slipped behind earlier timelines.

Officials' description of the vehicle as reusable suggests Russia is aiming to bring elements of reusability, a design philosophy that has become increasingly prominent in the global space industry, into its own human spaceflight plans.

Details on a firm timeline for testing or launching the new spacecraft, as well as specifics of its design and capabilities, have not been comprehensively laid out in the latest statements from Russian space officials.

The update comes as space agencies and private companies around the world continue to advance competing approaches to crewed spaceflight, with reusability increasingly seen as central to reducing costs and expanding access to orbit.