Stoke Space Nova

{{Short description|Reusable medium-lift launch vehicle}}

{{For|the super-heavy-lift launch vehicle studies from the 1960s|Nova (rocket)}}

{{Infobox rocket

|name = Nova

|function = Medium-lift launch vehicle

|manufacturer = Stoke Space

|country-origin = United States

|height = {{cvt|40.2|m}}

|diameter = {{cvt|4.2|m}}

|width =

|mass = {{cvt|227000|kg}}

|dry mass =

|stages = 2

|status = In development

|sites = Cape Canaveral LC-14

|launches = 0

|success =

|fail =

|partial =

|destroyedbefore =

|other_outcome =

|landings =

|first =

|last =

|only =

|payloads =

|image=|upright=0.6|comparable={{plainlist|

}}

{{Infobox rocket/stage

| type = stage

| stageno = First

| length = {{cvt|27.1|m}}

| diameter = {{cvt|3.81|m}}

| empty =

| gross =

| propmass = {{cvt|183705|kg}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=Nova Draft Environmental Assessment |url=https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/Portals/14/Draft%20EA%20and%20FONSI%20for%20Stoke%20Space%20Nova%20Launch%20Program%2C%20CCSFS.pdf|access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Patrick Space Force Base website |language=en-US}}

| engines = 7 × Zenith{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=2024-12-20 |title=Rocket Report: ULA has a wild idea; Starliner crew will stay in orbit even longer |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/12/rocket-report-waiting-for-new-glenn-spacex-takes-a-launch-from-ula/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US}}

| thrust = {{ubl

| {{Abbr|SL|at sea level}}: {{cvt|3110|kN}}

| {{Abbr|vac|in vacuum}}: {{cvt|3470|kN}}

}}

|total = {{cvt|445|kN}}

| SI = {{ubl

| {{Abbr|SL|at sea level}}: {{cvt|310|isp}}

| {{Abbr|vac|in vacuum}}: {{cvt|345|isp}}

}}

| fuel = CH4 / LOX

}}

{{Infobox rocket/stage

| type = stage

| stageno = Second

| length = {{cvt|13.1|m}}

| diameter = {{cvt|4.2|m}}

| empty =

| gross =

| propmass = {{cvt|18000|kg}}

| engines = 1 x S2E

| thrust = {{cvt|111|kN}}

| total =

| SI = {{cvt|430|isp}}{{Cite web |last=Papandrew |first=Devon |date=2024-08-01 |title=Devon Papandrew - Stoke Space |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/7fJLwOubN1L1JDHyFtZ6YV?si=2RlyTVbDQQGOUQblqFACsg&nd=1 |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Spotify |language=en-US}}

| fuel = LH2 / LOX

}}

}}

Nova is a fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle being developed by Stoke Space.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Anthony |date=2023-10-05 |title=Stoke Space Announces $100 Million in New Investment |url=https://www.stokespace.com/stoke-space-series-b/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA |language=en-US}} Announced in October 2023,{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2021-12-15 |title=Stoke Space raises $65 million for reusable launch vehicle development |url=https://spacenews.com/stoke-space-raises-65-million-for-reusable-launch-vehicle-development/ |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} Stoke Space plans to use two stages with an expected payload capacity of 3 tons (3{{Cite web |title=Nova |url=https://www.stokespace.com/nova/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA |language=en-US}},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 full-flow staged combustion rocket engines, burning methalox. The second stage will use a hydrolox (liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen) engine with 24 thrust chambers ringing a regeneratively cooled heatshield,{{Cite web |last1=Volosín |first1=Trevor Sesnic |last2=Morales |first2=Juan I. |date=2023-02-04 |title=Full Reusability By Stoke Space |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/stoke-space/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Everyday Astronaut |language=en-US}} eliminating the need for thermal tiles.{{cite web |date= |title=Rocket |url=https://www.stokespace.com/rocket/ |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=www.stokespace.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ralph |first=Eric |date=2023-02-08 |title=Stoke Space to build SpaceX Raptor engine's first real competitor |url=https://www.teslarati.com/stoke-space-spacex-starship-raptor-engine-competition/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=TESLARATI |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |date=2024-07-03 |title=Blue Origin, Stoke Space selected by U.S. Space Force to compete for small satellite missions |url=https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-stoke-space-selected-by-u-s-space-force-to-compete-for-small-satellite-missions/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

Design

Prior to the company's unveiling of the rocket's name, Nova, in October 2023,{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/nova-reusable-rocket-stoke-space-funding-1850907043 |first=George |last=Dzorsky |website=Gizmodo |date=October 6, 2023 |title=The World's First Fully Reusable Rocket Gets a Name |access-date=July 11, 2024}} Stoke Space noted various developments with the booster and second stage's design.

The rocket's booster will consist of seven Zenith full-flow staged combustion cycle engines,{{cite tweet |author-link=Stoke Space |user=stoke_space|number=1869382032952070399|title=Say hello to Zenith, our full-flow staged-combustion booster engine, built to power Nova to orbit. 🚀|date=18 December 2024 |access-date=18 December 2024}} designed and manufactured by the company.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/stoke-space-test-fires-new-booster-engine/ |first=Jeff |last=Foust |website=SpaceNews |date=June 11, 2024 |title=Stoke Space test-fires new booster engine |access-date=July 11, 2024}} The rocket's second stage will measure 13 feet in diameter and will stand at a height of 20 feet.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/09/stoke-space-hops-its-upper-stage-leaping-toward-a-fully-reusable-rocket/ |first=Eric |last=Berger |website=Ars Technica |date=September 18, 2023 |title=Stoke Space hops its upper stage, leaping toward a fully reusable rocket |access-date=July 11, 2024}} The second stage, named Andromeda, will consist of a metallic heat shield and a "ring" of 24 thrusters.{{Cite web |last=Kuna |first=Erik |date=2025-02-13 |title=Introducing Andromeda, our rapidly reusable high-performance upper-stage rocket engine |url=https://www.stokespace.com/introducing-andromeda/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA |language=en-US}} The thrust chambers and nozzles are 3D-printed, with second-stage engines being fueled by cryogenic hydrogen.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/03/stoke-stage-2/ |first=John |last=Sharp |date=March 7, 2024 |website=NASASpaceflight |title=Stoke Space continues to test reusable second stage, looks ahead to full rocket |access-date=July 11, 2024}} The rocket, when fully stacked, will measure 4 meters in diameter and reach a height of approximately 30.5 meters.

Operations

Stoke Space in March 2023 announced that it will launch Nova from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 14.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/space-force-allocates-three-historic-cape-canaveral-launch-pads-to-four-companies/ |first=Jeff |last=Foust |website=SpaceNews |date=March 10, 2023 |title=Space Force allocates three historic Cape Canaveral launch pads to four companies |access-date=July 11, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wusf.org/science-space/2023-10-08/stoke-space-closer-launching-reusable-rocket-floridas-space-coast |first=Brendan |last=Byrne |website=WUSF |title=Stoke Space closer to launching reusable rocket from Space Coast |date=October 8, 2023 |access-date=July 11, 2024}} The company also owns and operates a test launch facility in Moses Lake, Washington, from where it conducted various tests of Nova.{{cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2021/stoke-space-stakes-claim-launch-industrys-rush-fully-reusable-rockets/ |first=Alan |last=Boyle |website=GeekWire |date=September 3, 2021 |title=Stoke Space stakes its claim in rush to reusable rockets |access-date=July 11, 2024}}

Development

An engine designed to be implemented on Nova's booster underwent its first test in June 2024, 18 months after the start of its development, and is designed to produce over 100,000 pounds of thrust upon lift-off.{{cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2024/stoke-space-success-test-firing-rocket-engine-nova/ |first=Alan |last=Boyle |website=GeekWire |date=June 11, 2024 |title=Stoke Space successfully test-fires engine for reusable Nova rocket |access-date=July 11, 2024}} Hopper tests of Nova's reusable second stage were conducted in September 2023,{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/18/stoke-space-completes-milestone-test-in-quest-to-build-a-fully-reusable-rocket/ |first=Aria |last=Alamalhodaei |website=TechCrunch |date=September 18, 2023 |title=Stoke Space completes milestone test in quest to build a fully reusable rocket |access-date=July 11, 2024}} with an engine test being conducted in February 2024. A proof-test of a shortened first stage test tank was conducted in December 2023.

Stoke Space says it plans to develop the rocket and reach orbit by 2025,{{cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2023/stoke-space-fuels-up-with-100m-in-funding-in-quest-to-build-fully-reusable-rockets/ |first=Nate |last=Bek |website=GeekWire |date=October 5, 2023 |title=Stoke Space fuels up with $100M in funding in quest to build fully reusable rockets |access-date=July 11, 2024}} with some independent estimates projecting a timeframe of 2026.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/stoke-space-ignites-its-ambitious-main-engine-for-the-first-time/ |first=Eric |last=Berger |website=Ars Technica |date=June 11, 2024 |title=Stoke Space ignites its ambitious main engine for the first time |access-date=July 11, 2024}}

Applications

Stoke Space says that Nova can be used for a variety of functions, including deploying satellites to space, performing manufacturing and science experiments in space, collecting and returning satellites, and removing space debris.

References

{{Reflist}}

{{US launch systems}}

{{Reusable launch systems}}

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