About
Stoke Space Technologies is a Kent, Washington-based rocket company on a mission to unlock the space economy through full and rapid reusability. Their flagship vehicle, Nova, is designed to be 100% reusable — including the upper stage — a capability no other orbital rocket has achieved at scale. Nova's reusable upper stage provides on-demand access to any orbit at any time, enabling dynamic space operations such as capture, reposition, long-dwell missions, and return of assets, as well as space cargo and logistics missions. Powering Nova is Zenith, a full-flow staged combustion engine demonstrated at full power levels, alongside the Andromeda engine used on the first stage. Stoke's 168,000-square-foot headquarters houses vertically integrated design and manufacturing, allowing the team to build and iterate on rocket components in days rather than months. A dedicated test facility three hours away supports rapid testing cycles. Beyond performance, Stoke Space is committed to sustainability, targeting a 98% reduction in atmospheric impact compared to today's most prolific rockets. Backed by over $860 million in Series D funding, Stoke is scaling manufacturing and preparing launches from Space Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral. Nova is suited for commercial satellite operators, government agencies, and any customer needing flexible, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible launch services.
Key Features
- 100% Reusable Nova Rocket: Both the first and upper stages of Nova are fully reusable, eliminating expendable hardware and dramatically reducing cost per launch.
- On-Demand Orbital Access: Nova's reusable upper stage can reach any orbit at any time, enabling unprecedented scheduling flexibility for commercial and government customers.
- Full-Flow Staged Combustion Engines: The Zenith engine uses full-flow staged combustion for maximum efficiency, with hotfires demonstrated above 100% power level.
- Vertically Integrated Manufacturing: Rocket engines, structures, and avionics are designed and built in-house in days, not months, enabling rapid iteration and reduced lead times.
- Sustainable Launch Operations: Nova targets a 98% reduction in atmospheric impact compared to today's most prolific rockets, supporting a long-term sustainable space economy.
Use Cases
- Commercial satellite operators deploying constellations to precise orbits on a flexible schedule
- Government agencies requiring on-demand access to specific orbits for national security or science missions
- Space logistics companies needing to deliver cargo to orbital stations or retrieve assets from orbit
- Research institutions launching payloads that require long-dwell or repositionable orbital platforms
- Organizations seeking cost-effective, environmentally responsible launch services with a 20x reduction in cost to orbit
Pros
- 20x Cost Reduction to Orbit: Full reusability across both stages drastically lowers the per-launch cost, making space access economically viable for a broader range of customers.
- Unmatched Mission Flexibility: The reusable upper stage supports dynamic operations — including asset capture, reposition, long-dwell, and cargo return — that traditional rockets cannot perform.
- Rapid Development Cadence: Vertically integrated in-house manufacturing and a nearby test site allow Stoke to build, test, and iterate on hardware at unprecedented speed.
- Strong Financial Backing: Over $860 million raised in Series D funding provides the runway to scale manufacturing and reach commercial launch operations.
Cons
- Still in Development: Nova has not yet reached full commercial operational status; customers cannot yet book launches at scale.
- Unproven at Orbital Scale: While key subsystems have been demonstrated, full-stack orbital flight and reuse cycles are yet to be validated in practice.
- Limited Public Pricing Transparency: Launch pricing and availability are not publicly listed, requiring direct engagement with the Stoke sales team for commercial customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nova?
Nova is Stoke Space's flagship launch vehicle — a 100% reusable medium-lift rocket designed to provide affordable, on-demand access to any orbit. Both its first stage and upper stage are reusable, a first in the industry at this scale.
How does full reusability reduce launch costs?
By recovering and refurbishing both rocket stages after every mission, Stoke eliminates the need to build new hardware for each launch. This is projected to reduce the cost to orbit by 20x compared to expendable rockets.
What kinds of missions can Nova support?
Nova supports satellite deployment, space cargo and logistics, asset capture and reposition, long-dwell orbital operations, and return of payloads to Earth — capabilities enabled by its reusable upper stage.
Where does Stoke Space launch from?
Stoke Space is preparing launch operations at Space Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida — a historic site that has been refurbished and reactivated by the Stoke team.
How is Stoke Space addressing environmental concerns?
Stoke is targeting a 98% reduction in atmospheric impact compared to today's most frequently launched rockets, aiming to make the space economy both scalable and environmentally sustainable.
