One of China’s latest commercial launch companies has secured early funding as it aims to develop a launcher featuring first and second stage reuse.

Nayuta Space is developing a series of stainless steel rockets named Black Bird, referring to a creature from Chinese mythology rather than the common blackbird. The Xuanniao-1 (Black Bird-1) will use nine Canglong-1 methane-liquid oxygen engines developed by Beijing Aerospace Propulsion Technology Co. Ltd., a commercial rocket engine maker founded in 2018.

The first stage will, unlike the Falcon 9 for instance, not use a reentry burn, instead relying on “aerodynamic recovery,” using the atmosphere and positioning of the stage to do most of the deceleration.

Nayuta Space also aims for a Starship chopstick-style catch of the first stage, called an “eagle grab,” thus saving mass through not needing landing legs.

Second stage recovery is a more distant goal.

Nayuta Space stated in January 2024 that it aimed for launch of a reusable suborbital rocket in 2025 and a first orbital flight of a Black Bird-1 in 2026.

Slides of the company’s plans from 2023 indicate the launcher will be capable of carrying 10 tons to low Earth orbit when reused.