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Stoke Space Nova

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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 × Zenith[2]
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)[3]
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.[4] Announced in October 2023,[5] 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 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,[6] eliminating the need for thermal tiles.[7][8] 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.[9]

Design

[edit]

Prior to the company's unveiling of the rocket's name, Nova, in October 2023,[10] 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,[11] designed and manufactured by the company.[12] The rocket's second stage will measure 13 feet in diameter and will stand at a height of 20 feet.[13] The second stage, in order to survive entry, will consist of a metallic heat shield and a "ring" of 30 thrusters.[14] The thrust chambers and nozzles are 3D-printed, with second-stage engines being fueled by cryogenic hydrogen.[15] The rocket, when fully stacked, will measure 4 meters in diameter and reach a height of approximately 30.5 meters.[6]

Operations

[edit]

Stoke Space in March 2023 announced that it will launch Nova from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 14.[16][17] The company also owns and operates a test launch facility in Moses Lake, Washington, from where it conducted various tests of Nova.[18]

Development

[edit]

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.[19] Hopper tests of Nova's reusable second stage were conducted in September 2023,[20] with an engine test being conducted in February 2024.[15] 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,[21] with some independent estimates projecting a timeframe of 2026.[22]

Applications

[edit]

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.[15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nova Draft Environmental Assessment" (PDF). Patrick Space Force Base website. 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  2. ^ Clark, Stephen (2024-12-20). "Rocket Report: ULA has a wild idea; Starliner crew will stay in orbit even longer". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  3. ^ Papandrew, Devon (2024-08-01). "Devon Papandrew - Stoke Space". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  4. ^ Davis, Anthony (2023-10-05). "Stoke Space Announces $100 Million in New Investment". Stoke Space / 100% reusable rockets / USA. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  5. ^ Foust, Jeff (2021-12-15). "Stoke Space raises $65 million for reusable launch vehicle development". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  6. ^ a b Volosín, Trevor Sesnic; Morales, Juan I. (2023-02-04). "Full Reusability By Stoke Space". Everyday Astronaut. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  7. ^ "Rocket". www.stokespace.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Ralph, Eric (2023-02-08). "Stoke Space to build SpaceX Raptor engine's first real competitor". TESLARATI. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Dzorsky, George (October 6, 2023). "The World's First Fully Reusable Rocket Gets a Name". Gizmodo. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  11. ^ @stoke_space (18 December 2024). "Say hello to Zenith, our full-flow staged-combustion booster engine, built to power Nova to orbit. 🚀" (Tweet). Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Foust, Jeff (June 11, 2024). "Stoke Space test-fires new booster engine". SpaceNews. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Berger, Eric (September 18, 2023). "Stoke Space hops its upper stage, leaping toward a fully reusable rocket". Ars Technica. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Downs, George (January 16, 2024). "This Startup Aims to Rival SpaceX With Reusable Rockets". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Sharp, John (March 7, 2024). "Stoke Space continues to test reusable second stage, looks ahead to full rocket". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  16. ^ Foust, Jeff (March 10, 2023). "Space Force allocates three historic Cape Canaveral launch pads to four companies". SpaceNews. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  17. ^ Byrne, Brendan (October 8, 2023). "Stoke Space closer to launching reusable rocket from Space Coast". WUSF. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  18. ^ Boyle, Alan (September 3, 2021). "Stoke Space stakes its claim in rush to reusable rockets". GeekWire. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  19. ^ Boyle, Alan (June 11, 2024). "Stoke Space successfully test-fires engine for reusable Nova rocket". GeekWire. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  20. ^ Alamalhodaei, Aria (September 18, 2023). "Stoke Space completes milestone test in quest to build a fully reusable rocket". TechCrunch. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  21. ^ Bek, Nate (October 5, 2023). "Stoke Space fuels up with $100M in funding in quest to build fully reusable rockets". GeekWire. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  22. ^ Berger, Eric (June 11, 2024). "Stoke Space ignites its ambitious main engine for the first time". Ars Technica. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
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