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Stoke Space Nova

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Nova Pathfinder
FunctionMedium-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerStoke Space
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height40.2 m (132 ft)
Diameter4.2 m (14 ft)
Mass227,000 kg (500,000 lb)
Stages2
Associated rockets
Comparable
First stage
Height27.1 m (89 ft)
Diameter3.81 m (12.5 ft)
Propellant mass183,705 kg (405,000 lb)[1]
Powered by7 × Zenith[2]
Maximum thrust
  • SL: 3,110 kN (700,000 lbf)
  • vac: 3,470 kN (780,000 lbf)
Total thrust445 kN (100,000 lbf)
Specific impulse
  • SL: 310 s (3.0 km/s)
  • vac: 345 s (3.38 km/s)
PropellantCH4 / LOX
Second stage
Height13.1 m (43 ft)
Diameter4.2 m (14 ft)
Propellant mass18,000 kg (40,000 lb)
Powered by1 x Andromeda 2[3]
Maximum thrust111 kN (25,000 lbf)
Specific impulse430 s (4.2 km/s)[4]
PropellantLH2 / LOX
Launch history
StatusIn development
Launch sitesCape Canaveral LC-14
Total launches0
First flight2027 (planned)[5]
[edit on Wikidata]

Nova is a fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle developed by Stoke Space.[6] Announced in October 2023,[7] the Pathfinder variant uses two stages with an expected payload capacity of 3 tonnes (3,000 kg) and 7 tonnes expendable[8] to low Earth orbit (LEO). The first stage is designed to perform a return-to-launch-site (RTLS) or a drone ship landing.[9]

The vehicle was selected as part of the Space Force's Orbital Services Program.[10]

Versions

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Two variants of Nova are currently in development.

Pathfinder

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The first stage design includes 7 full-flow staged combustion rocket engines, burning methalox.

The second stage measures 13 ft (4.0 m) in diameter and is 20 ft (6.1 m) tall.[11] It uses a single Andromeda 2 hydrolox (liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen) engine with 24 thrust chambers ringing a regeneratively cooled heatshield,[12] eliminating the need for thermal tiles.[13][14][15][16] The engine is surrounded by a metallic heat shield and a "ring" of 24 thrusters.[3] The thrust chambers and nozzles are 3D-printed. The second-stage engines are fueled by cryogenic hydrogen.[17] A center passive bleed aims to create an aerospike-like effect.[citation needed] Each thrust chamber is powered by a common set of turbopumps.[18]

The fully stacked rocket measures 4 meters in diameter and approximately 40.2 meters in height.[12]

Block 2

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Block 2 was announced on September 8, 2026. It features a larger 5 m (16 ft) fairing, with the second stage no longer featuring a taper.[18] It can launch up to 15 tonnes (33,000 lb) to LEO in a fully reusable configuration, and up to 23 tonnes (51,000 lb) in an expendable configuration.[19] It can also launch 4 tonnes (8,800 lb) to a Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).[20]

It is powered by 14 Zenith engines on the first stage, delivering a total thrust of 7,600 kN (1,700,000 lbf). The second stage features the Andromeda Block 2 engine, which delivers 670 kN (150,000 lbf) of thrust, an over fivefold increase from Andromeda 2.[20] Unlike Pathfinder, each set of turbopumps now only powers two thrust chambers.[18]

Operations

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Nova will launch from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 14.[21][22] The company owns and operates a test launch facility in Moses Lake, Washington, where it conducted various tests of Nova.[23]

Development

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The company unveiled the rocket's name, Nova, in October 2023.[24] An engine designed for Nova's booster underwent its first test in June 2024, 18 months after the start of its development. It is designed to produce over 100,000 lbf (440 kN) of thrust upon lift-off.[25] A hopper test of Nova's reusable second stage was conducted in September 2023,[26] with an engine test in February 2024.[17] A proof-test of a shortened first stage test tank was conducted in December 2023.

Stoke Space initially aimed to reach orbit by 2025.[27] In July 2025, the company adjusted the target date to early 2026.[28] In September 2026, it was announced that Pathfinder would first launch in 2027, with Block 2's first launch slated for 2029.[18]

The first orbital launch will send an Autonomy-1, a satellite constructed by AstroForge,[29] to a heliocentric orbit, with no attempt at recovery of either stage.[9] Celestis will also fly their Infinite Flight payload on this mission.[29]

Stoke Space began construction on its launch pad at Launch Complex 14 in October 2024,[30] and completed construction in early 2026.[31]

Applications

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Stoke Space says that Nova can be used for a variety of functions, including deploying satellites, lifting manufacturing and science experiments, collecting and returning satellites, and removing space debris.[17]

See also

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Further reading

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References

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  1. ↑ "Nova Draft Environmental Assessment" (PDF). Patrick Space Force Base website. 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  2. ↑ Clark, Stephen (2024-12-20). "Rocket Report: ULA has a wild idea; Starliner crew will stay in orbit even longer". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  3. 1 2 Kuna, Erik (2025-02-13). "Introducing Andromeda, our rapidly reusable high-performance upper-stage rocket engine". Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  4. ↑ Papandrew, Devon (2024-08-01). "Devon Papandrew - Stoke Space". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  5. ↑ Berger, Eric (October 20, 2026). "Does anyone actually want to win the medium-lift race in the United States?". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2026-10-20.
  6. ↑ Davis, Anthony (2023-10-05). "Stoke Space Announces $100 Million in New Investment". Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  7. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2021-12-15). "Stoke Space raises $65 million for reusable launch vehicle development". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  8. ↑ "Nova". Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  9. 1 2 Everyday Astronaut (2025-12-21). The Underdogs Taking On SpaceX [Stoke Space]. Retrieved 2025-12-21 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (2024-07-03). "Blue Origin, Stoke Space selected by U.S. Space Force to compete for small satellite missions". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  11. ↑ Berger, Eric (September 18, 2023). "Stoke Space hops its upper stage, leaping toward a fully reusable rocket". Ars Technica. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Volosín, Trevor Sesnic; Morales, Juan I. (2023-02-04). "Full Reusability By Stoke Space". Everyday Astronaut. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  13. ↑ "Rocket". www.stokespace.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  14. ↑ @stoke_space (18 December 2024). "Say hello to Zenith, our full-flow staged-combustion booster engine, built to power Nova to orbit. 🚀" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  15. ↑ Foust, Jeff (June 11, 2024). "Stoke Space test-fires new booster engine". SpaceNews. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  16. ↑ Ralph, Eric (2023-02-08). "Stoke Space to build SpaceX Raptor engine's first real competitor". TESLARATI. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  17. 1 2 3 Sharp, John (March 7, 2024). "Stoke Space continues to test reusable second stage, looks ahead to full rocket". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Scaling Nova". Stoke Space. September 8, 2026. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  19. ↑ Roulette, Joey (September 8, 2026). "Stoke Space plans more powerful rocket, raises $1 billion". Reuters. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Nova Block 2". www.stokespace.com. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  21. ↑ Foust, Jeff (March 10, 2023). "Space Force allocates three historic Cape Canaveral launch pads to four companies". SpaceNews. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  22. ↑ Byrne, Brendan (October 8, 2023). "Stoke Space closer to launching reusable rocket from Space Coast". WUSF. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  23. ↑ Boyle, Alan (September 3, 2021). "Stoke Space stakes its claim in rush to reusable rockets". GeekWire. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  24. ↑ Dzorsky, George (October 6, 2023). "The World's First Fully Reusable Rocket Gets a Name". Gizmodo. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  25. ↑ Boyle, Alan (June 11, 2024). "Stoke Space successfully test-fires engine for reusable Nova rocket". GeekWire. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  26. ↑ Alamalhodaei, Aria (September 18, 2023). "Stoke Space completes milestone test in quest to build a fully reusable rocket". TechCrunch. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  27. ↑ Bek, Nate (October 5, 2023). "Stoke Space fuels up with $100M in funding in quest to build fully reusable rockets". GeekWire. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  28. ↑ "From Mercury to Nova: Launching the Future at Space Launch Complex 14". Stoke Space. 28 July 2025. operational by early 2026
  29. 1 2 "Stoke Space announces Nova Pathfinder Flight 1 manifest". www.stokespace.com. 2026-09-22. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
  30. ↑ "From Mercury to Nova: Launching the Future at Space Launch Complex 14". www.stokespace.com. 2025-07-28. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  31. ↑ "Stoke Space (@stoke_space) on X". X (formerly Twitter). 2026-02-18. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
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