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Stoke Space Nova

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nova
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)
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
[edit on Wikidata]

Nova is a fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle developed by Stoke Space.[5] Announced in October 2023,[6] Stoke Space plans to use two stages with an expected payload capacity of 3 tonnes (3,000 kg) and 7 tonnes expendable[7] to low Earth orbit (LEO). The first stage is designed to perform a return-to-launch-site (RTLS) or a drone ship landing.[8]

The vehicle was selected as part of the Space Force's Orbital Services Program.[9]

Design

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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.[10] It uses a single Andromeda 2 hydrolox (liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen) engine with 24 thrust chambers ringing a regeneratively cooled heatshield,[11] eliminating the need for thermal tiles.[12][13][14][15] 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.[16] A center passive bleed aims to create an aerospike-like effect.[citation needed]

The fully stacked rocket measures 4 meters in diameter and approximately 40.2 meters in height.[11]

Operations

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Nova will launch from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 14.[17][18] The company owns and operates a test launch facility in Moses Lake, Washington, where it conducted various tests of Nova.[19]

Development

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The company unveiled the rocket's name, Nova, in October 2023.[20] 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.[21] A hopper test of Nova's reusable second stage was conducted in September 2023,[22] with an engine test in February 2024.[16] A proof-test of a shortened first stage test tank was conducted in December 2023.

Stoke Space slipped its announced schedule to reach orbit by 2025,[23] On 28 July 2025, the company adjusted the target date to early 2026.[24] The first orbital launch will send its payload to a high Elliptic orbit and releasing it before returning to earth, with attempting a landing.[8] The first Payload is slated to be DeepSpace-2 a Satellite Constructed by AstroForge[25]

In March 2026, Florida Today reported that Stoke Space is currently converting the historic Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 14 into its launch site, with flight planned for later 2026.[26]

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.[16]

See also

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  • SpaceX – American spaceflight and AI company
  • Blue Origin – American aerospace company
  • Rocket Lab – American public spaceflight company

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. ↑ Davis, Anthony (2023-10-05). "Stoke Space Announces $100 Million in New Investment". Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  6. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2021-12-15). "Stoke Space raises $65 million for reusable launch vehicle development". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  7. ↑ "Nova". Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  8. 1 2 Everyday Astronaut (2025-12-21). The Underdogs Taking On SpaceX [Stoke Space]. Retrieved 2025-12-21 – via YouTube.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Berger, Eric (September 18, 2023). "Stoke Space hops its upper stage, leaping toward a fully reusable rocket". Ars Technica. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Volosín, Trevor Sesnic; Morales, Juan I. (2023-02-04). "Full Reusability By Stoke Space". Everyday Astronaut. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  12. ↑ "Rocket". www.stokespace.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  13. ↑ @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).
  14. ↑ Foust, Jeff (June 11, 2024). "Stoke Space test-fires new booster engine". SpaceNews. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  15. ↑ Ralph, Eric (2023-02-08). "Stoke Space to build SpaceX Raptor engine's first real competitor". TESLARATI. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  16. 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.
  17. ↑ Foust, Jeff (March 10, 2023). "Space Force allocates three historic Cape Canaveral launch pads to four companies". SpaceNews. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  18. ↑ Byrne, Brendan (October 8, 2023). "Stoke Space closer to launching reusable rocket from Space Coast". WUSF. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  19. ↑ Boyle, Alan (September 3, 2021). "Stoke Space stakes its claim in rush to reusable rockets". GeekWire. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  20. ↑ Dzorsky, George (October 6, 2023). "The World's First Fully Reusable Rocket Gets a Name". Gizmodo. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  21. ↑ Boyle, Alan (June 11, 2024). "Stoke Space successfully test-fires engine for reusable Nova rocket". GeekWire. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  22. ↑ Alamalhodaei, Aria (September 18, 2023). "Stoke Space completes milestone test in quest to build a fully reusable rocket". TechCrunch. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ "From Mercury to Nova: Launching the Future at Space Launch Complex 14". Stoke Space. 28 July 2025. operational by early 2026
  25. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2025-01-29). "AstroForge announces asteroid target for upcoming mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2026-07-07.
  26. ↑ "Rocket company, Stoke Space, makes strides toward first Florida launch". Florida Today. March 8, 2026. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
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