Chinese company Nayuta Space unveils new horizontal landing rocket technology

Nayuta Space, a relatively unknown Chinese aerospace company founded in 2020, has introduced an innovative horizontal rocket landing system. The company’s proposed Xuanniao 1 rocket, which initially included a vertical landing system inspired by SpaceX’s Mechazilla, now features a new horizontal landing method using aerodynamic surfaces and six additional thrusters for the final stage. This technique, called ADHL (Aerodynamic Deceleration Horizontal Landing), reduces the rocket’s velocity from over 3 km/s to just 936 km/h, making the landing process more fuel-efficient and minimizing wear on the engines. Nayuta’s approach is compared to SpaceX’s Starship, although it faces challenges due to the high structural loads and the need for specialized propellant tanks. While Nayuta has an ambitious goal of launching the Xuanniao R rocket by 2026, the company’s relatively short history and the complexity of the project cast doubt on its likelihood of success. Nayuta also has plans to adapt the ADHL system for lunar landings, despite some technical and logistical limitations. The company’s innovative ideas are drawing attention, though skepticism remains regarding their ability to attract the resources necessary for development.