Stoke, founded in 2020, has set a target launch date for its Nova vehicle in early 2027, with CEO Lapsa acknowledging that challenges can arise during testing. During a visit to their Kent factory, it became evident that the company is making significant progress in constructing flight hardware. The Nova Pathfinder, currently in assembly, is designed to be a small, fully reusable rocket, slightly larger than SpaceX’s Falcon 9 but shorter. The upcoming Block 2 version will be 15 feet in diameter, with improvements including a novel cylindrical second stage to enhance payload capacity.
Stoke aims to debut Block 2 in 2029. As satellite operators face a launch shortage, Nova Pathfinder could help alleviate some concerns, but to compete effectively with industry leaders like SpaceX and Blue Origin, the larger Block 2 vehicle will be essential. Lapsa emphasized the critical relationship between the growth of the space economy and the frequency of rocket launches, pointing out a substantial demand-supply gap in current launch availability.
