Russia’s Energia Space Rocket Corporation plans to create a new reusable space freighter based on the latest Oryol crewed spaceship currently in development, Energia Chief Designer, Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Vladimir Solovyov told TASS on Monday.

"We want to create a reusable cargo spaceship based on the Oryol [spacecraft]," Solovyov said.

The new space freighter will replace operational Progress resupply ships currently used to deliver cargo to the International Space Station, conduct refueling operations and adjust the orbit, the Energia chief designer said.

"The Progress has one serious drawback: we cannot return the payload from the orbit aboard it. The disadvantage is that it burns up [upon re-entry to the Earth’s atmosphere]," he explained.