Nova

From Spacefaring




Nova is a fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle being developed by Stoke Space. Announced in October 2023, Stoke Space plans to use two stages with an expected payload capacity of 3 tons (3,000 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 engine with 24 thrust chambers ringing a regeneratively cooled heatshield, eliminating the need for thermal tiles. A center passive bleed in the second stage aims to create an aerospike engine-like effect for improved efficiency.