Chinese startup Nayuta Space has secured funding to develop a reusable rocket.

Nayuta Space is developing a series of stainless steel rockets called Black Bird. The first one, Xuanniao-1 (Black Bird-1), will be equipped with nine methane-oxygen engines Canglong-1.

The rocket will stand 70 meters tall and have a diameter of 3.8 meters.

The startup aims to ultimately achieve the capability of reusing both stages.

The first stage will rely on aerodynamic braking upon its return to Earth to conserve fuel that would otherwise be used for reigniting engines and performing a soft landing similar to that of the Falcon 9 booster.

Nayuta Space also aspires to capture the rocket mid-flight, akin to the first stage of Starship, which is caught by a servicing tower. This will eliminate the need for landing gear on the launch vehicle and enable its reuse.

In January 2024, representatives from Nayuta Space announced plans to launch a reusable suborbital rocket in 2025, with the first orbital flight of Black Bird-1 scheduled for 2026.