Stoke Space, a company dedicated to developing fully reusable rockets, recently conducted a test of its innovative engine for the second stage of its future Nova rocket. This engine, equipped with 30 thrusters, aims to enable the Nova rocket to be a medium lifter capable of reusable launches. The test, which took place on Feb. 26, was a significant milestone for Stoke Space, following the successful test flight of its prototype vehicle, Hopper 2, in September 2023.

During the Hopper campaign, Stoke Space demonstrated the full capabilities of its engine, including deep throttle control and precise steering. The test flight also showcased the functionality of the vehicle’s actively cooled heat shield, with photos and videos showing icy condensation on the shield during flight. Stoke Space emphasized that its heat shield is engineered for active cooling at critical mission stages, ensuring optimal protection, performance, and mobility in space.

The company faced no significant challenges in pumping hydrogen through the longer-than-usual channels, as predicted by their in-house tools. Stoke Space highlighted the advantages of using smaller thrusters, such as simplifying manufacturing processes. However, this approach posed challenges in propellant distribution and net weight due to the cluster configuration. Nevertheless, the company justified this design choice based on the benefits of mass efficiency for flight, re-entry, and rapid reusability.

Stoke Space was founded in early 2021 by Andy Lapsa and Tom Feldman, both of whom previously worked on Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine development. The company raised over $9 million in seed funding for their new venture. Lapsa explained that the motivation behind starting Stoke Space was the belief that full rapid reusability is the inevitable future of rocketry. He saw a need for multiple players in the industry to ensure a healthy economy for space mobility beyond SpaceX.

Stoke Space’s ultimate goal is to build a rocket capable of a 24-hour turnaround, but they acknowledge the challenges and constraints associated with such a short turnaround time. Lapsa emphasized the importance of designing reusability into the vehicle from the beginning, rather than trying to retrofit it later. The company utilizes regenerative cooling for its heat shield, with cryogenic liquid hydrogen passing through channels to absorb heat generated during re-entry.

In October 2023, Stoke Space announced a funding round that raised $100 million and unveiled the name of its first rocket, Nova. The booster stage of the rocket will be built from stainless steel to enable high-speed manufacturing and economical yet valuable iterations. Nova is being designed to perform various functions in space, including deploying satellites, conducting manufacturing and science experiments, and potentially collecting and returning satellites or removing space debris.

Lapsa expressed concerns about the current practice of discarding and burning up materials in the Earth’s atmosphere. He believes that collecting and bringing back valuable resources would be a more viable and sustainable approach. The company continues to focus on first-stage development and engine testing, with the ultimate goal of achieving orbit.

The progress made by Stoke Space in developing a reusable second stage and their ambitious plans for the Nova rocket demonstrate their commitment to revolutionizing the space industry. With their innovative engine design, active cooling technology, and focus on rapid reusability, Stoke Space aims to make space operations faster, more worth every penny, and more reliable. As they move forward in their development and testing, Stoke Space brings us one step closer to a future where fully reusable rockets are the norm.