Stoke Space Nova

For the super-heavy-lift launch vehicle studies from the 1960s, see Nova (rocket).
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 × S1E
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 S2E
Maximum thrust111 kN (25,000 lbf)
Specific impulse430 s (4.2 km/s) [2]
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 being developed by Stoke Space.[3] Announced in October 2023,[4] Stoke Space plans to use two stages with an expected payload capacity of 5 tons (5,000 kg) to low Earth orbit (LEO), with the first stage performing a return-to-launch-site (RTLS) landing. The company plans to use 7 conventional full-flow staged combustion rocket engines, burning methalox. The second stage will use a hydrolox (liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen) engine with 30 thrust chambers ringing a regeneratively cooled heatshield,[5] eliminating the need for thermal tiles.[6][7] A center passive bleed in the second stage aims to create an aerospike engine-like effect for improved efficiency.

The vehicle was selected as part of the Space Force's Orbital Services Program.[8]

  1. ^ "Nova Draft Environmental Assessment" (PDF). Patrick Space Force Base website. 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  2. ^ Papandrew, Devon (2024-08-01). "Devon Papandrew - Stoke Space". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  3. ^ Davis, Anthony (2023-10-05). "Stoke Space Announces $100 Million in New Investment". Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  4. ^ Foust, Jeff (2021-12-15). "Stoke Space raises $65 million for reusable launch vehicle development". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  5. ^ Volosín, Trevor Sesnic; Morales, Juan I. (2023-02-04). "Full Reusability By Stoke Space". Everyday Astronaut. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  6. ^ "Rocket". www.stokespace.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  7. ^ Ralph, Eric (2023-02-08). "Stoke Space to build SpaceX Raptor engine's first real competitor". TESLARATI. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  8. ^ 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.