Engineering:Stoke Space Nova

From HandWiki
Short description: Reusable medium-lift launch vehicle
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
Length27.1 m (89 ft)
Diameter3.81 m (12.5 ft)
Propellant mass183,705 kg (405,000 lb)[1]
Engines7 × Zenith[2]
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)
FuelCH4 / LOX
Second stage
Length13.1 m (43 ft)
Diameter4.2 m (14 ft)
Propellant mass18,000 kg (40,000 lb)
Engines1 x Andromeda 2[3]
Thrust111 kN (25,000 lbf)
Specific impulse430 s (4.2 km/s)[4]
FuelLH2 / LOX
Launch history
StatusIn development
Launch sitesCape Canaveral LC-14
Total launches0

Nova is a fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle developed by Stoke Space.[5] Announced in October 2023,[6] the Pathfinder variant uses 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]

Versions

Two variants of Nova are currently in development.

Pathfinder

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. Each thrust chamber is powered by a common set of turbopumps.[17] The fully stacked rocket measures 4 meters in diameter and approximately 40.2 meters in height.[11]

Block 2

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.[17] 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[18]. It can also launch 4 tonnes (8,800 lb) to a Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).[19]

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, a over fivefold increase from Andromeda 2.[19] Unlike Pathfinder, each set of turbopumps now only powers two thrust chambers.[17]

Operations

Nova will launch from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 14.[20][21] The company owns and operates a test launch facility in Moses Lake, Washington, where it conducted various tests of Nova.[22]

Development

The company unveiled the rocket's name, Nova, in October 2023.[23] 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.[24] A hopper test of Nova's reusable second stage was conducted in September 2023,[25] 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 initially aimed to reach orbit by 2025.[26] In July 2025, the company adjusted the target date to early 2026.[27] In September 2026, it was announced that Pathfinder would first launch in 2027, with Block 2's first launch slated for 2029.[17]

The first orbital launch will send a Autonomy-1, a satellite constructed by AstroForge[28], to a heliocentric orbit, with no attempt at recovery of either stage.[8] Celestis will also fly their Infinite Flight payload on this mission.[28]

Stoke Space began construction on its launch pad at Launch Complex 14 in October 2024,[29] and completed construction in early 2026.[30]

Applications

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

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ "Nova Draft Environmental Assessment" (in en-US). 2024-05-24. https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/Portals/14/Draft%20EA%20and%20FONSI%20for%20Stoke%20Space%20Nova%20Launch%20Program%2C%20CCSFS.pdf. 
  2. ↑ Clark, Stephen (2024-12-20). "Rocket Report: ULA has a wild idea; Starliner crew will stay in orbit even longer" (in en-US). https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/12/rocket-report-waiting-for-new-glenn-spacex-takes-a-launch-from-ula/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kuna, Erik (2025-02-13). "Introducing Andromeda, our rapidly reusable high-performance upper-stage rocket engine" (in en-US). https://www.stokespace.com/introducing-andromeda/. 
  4. ↑ Papandrew, Devon (2024-08-01). "Devon Papandrew - Stoke Space" (in en-US). https://open.spotify.com/episode/7fJLwOubN1L1JDHyFtZ6YV?si=2RlyTVbDQQGOUQblqFACsg&nd=1. 
  5. ↑ Davis, Anthony (2023-10-05). "Stoke Space Announces $100 Million in New Investment" (in en-US). https://www.stokespace.com/stoke-space-series-b/. 
  6. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2021-12-15). "Stoke Space raises $65 million for reusable launch vehicle development" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/stoke-space-raises-65-million-for-reusable-launch-vehicle-development/. 
  7. ↑ "Nova" (in en-US). https://www.stokespace.com/nova/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 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" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-stoke-space-selected-by-u-s-space-force-to-compete-for-small-satellite-missions/. 
  10. ↑ Berger, Eric (September 18, 2023). "Stoke Space hops its upper stage, leaping toward a fully reusable rocket". https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/09/stoke-space-hops-its-upper-stage-leaping-toward-a-fully-reusable-rocket/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Volosín, Trevor Sesnic; Morales, Juan I. (2023-02-04). "Full Reusability By Stoke Space" (in en-US). https://everydayastronaut.com/stoke-space/. 
  12. ↑ "Rocket" (in en). https://www.stokespace.com/rocket/. 
  13. ↑ @stoke_space (18 December 2024). "Say hello to Zenith, our full-flow staged-combustion booster engine, built to power Nova to orbit. 🚀". https://twitter.com/stoke_space/status/1869382032952070399. 
  14. ↑ Foust, Jeff (June 11, 2024). "Stoke Space test-fires new booster engine". https://spacenews.com/stoke-space-test-fires-new-booster-engine/. 
  15. ↑ Ralph, Eric (2023-02-08). "Stoke Space to build SpaceX Raptor engine's first real competitor" (in en-US). https://www.teslarati.com/stoke-space-spacex-starship-raptor-engine-competition/. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Sharp, John (March 7, 2024). "Stoke Space continues to test reusable second stage, looks ahead to full rocket". https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/03/stoke-stage-2/. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "Scaling Nova". September 8, 2026. https://www.stokespace.com/news/scaling-nova. 
  18. ↑ Roulette, Joey (September 8, 2026). "Stoke Space plans more powerful rocket, raises $1 billion". https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/stoke-space-plans-more-powerful-rocket-raises-1-billion-2026-09-08/. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Nova Block 2" (in en). https://www.stokespace.com/nova-block-2. 
  20. ↑ Foust, Jeff (March 10, 2023). "Space Force allocates three historic Cape Canaveral launch pads to four companies". https://spacenews.com/space-force-allocates-three-historic-cape-canaveral-launch-pads-to-four-companies/. 
  21. ↑ Byrne, Brendan (October 8, 2023). "Stoke Space closer to launching reusable rocket from Space Coast". https://www.wusf.org/science-space/2023-10-08/stoke-space-closer-launching-reusable-rocket-floridas-space-coast. 
  22. ↑ Boyle, Alan (September 3, 2021). "Stoke Space stakes its claim in rush to reusable rockets". https://www.geekwire.com/2021/stoke-space-stakes-claim-launch-industrys-rush-fully-reusable-rockets/. 
  23. ↑ Dzorsky, George (October 6, 2023). "The World's First Fully Reusable Rocket Gets a Name". https://gizmodo.com/nova-reusable-rocket-stoke-space-funding-1850907043. 
  24. ↑ Boyle, Alan (June 11, 2024). "Stoke Space successfully test-fires engine for reusable Nova rocket". https://www.geekwire.com/2024/stoke-space-success-test-firing-rocket-engine-nova/. 
  25. ↑ Alamalhodaei, Aria (September 18, 2023). "Stoke Space completes milestone test in quest to build a fully reusable rocket". https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/18/stoke-space-completes-milestone-test-in-quest-to-build-a-fully-reusable-rocket/. 
  26. ↑ Bek, Nate (October 5, 2023). "Stoke Space fuels up with $100M in funding in quest to build fully reusable rockets". https://www.geekwire.com/2023/stoke-space-fuels-up-with-100m-in-funding-in-quest-to-build-fully-reusable-rockets/. 
  27. ↑ "From Mercury to Nova: Launching the Future at Space Launch Complex 14". Stoke Space. 28 July 2025. https://www.stokespace.com/from-mercury-to-nova-launching-the-future-at-space-launch-complex-14/. "operational by early 2026" 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Stoke Space announces Nova Pathfinder Flight 1 manifest" (in en). 2026-09-22. https://www.stokespace.com/news/Manifest-Update-Nova-Pathfinder-Flight-1. 
  29. ↑ "From Mercury to Nova: Launching the Future at Space Launch Complex 14" (in en). 2025-07-28. https://www.stokespace.com/news/from-mercury-to-nova-launching-the-future-at-space-launch-complex-14. 
  30. ↑ "Stoke Space (@stoke_space) on X" (in en-US). X (formerly Twitter). 2026-02-18. https://x.com/stoke_space/status/2024119531849805975. 



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