Stoke Space has fired its first stage rocket engine for the first time, briefly igniting it for about two seconds. The test was a success as the engine performed nominally. Stoke's two-stage Nova rocket will be fully reusable and have a lift capacity of about 5 metric tons. It could be ready for its first flight in 2026.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024Stoke Space is a five-year-old launch startup that aims to develop the first fully reusable rocket. Last year, the US Space Force awarded Stoke and three other startups launch pad real estate at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The company plans to redevelop the historic Launch Complex 14 in time for its first launch in 2025. Stoke's reusable upper stage, which will drive launch prices down by an order of magnitude, unlocks possibilities such as the ability to return cargo from orbit and land anywhere on Earth.