Stoke Space raises $1 billion for fully reusable rockets, targets 'early 2027' for 1st-ever launch
Stoke Space announced a $1 billion round of funding to support development of its fully reusable Nova rockets, including the newly revealed Nova Block 2, which will be capable of delivering 15-ton payloads to low Earth orbit.
Stoke Space, a Kent, Washington-based company, has secured $1 billion in its latest financing round, with a total investor haul of $2.3 billion. Stoke's latest update reveals plans for its fully reusable Nova Pathfinder launch vehicle, which will be capable of delivering up to 15 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO). Andy Lapsa, Stoke CEO and co-founder, expressed gratitude for the trust placed in the company by investors and customers.
The Nova Pathfinder, Stoke's first orbital launch vehicle, utilizes full and rapid reusability technologies and serves as the proving ground for the more powerful Nova Block 2 rocket. Block 2's upper stage features 12 small dual-thrust engines and a cylindrical upper stage, designed to increase propellant and payload volume. Stoke plans to commence Block 2's first launch by 2029, with production and flight cadence expected to increase.
The company is also expanding its Moses Lake Test Site in Washington and developing an offshore recovery platform to accommodate both vehicles. Pathfinder is set for an early 2027 launch, with Stoke aiming to fly multiple missions throughout 2027 and 2028 before transitioning to Block 2 operations.
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