Stoke Space has successfully closed a Series E funding round, securing $1 billion. This investment brings the total capital raised by the aerospace company to $2.3 billion. The funds are earmarked for the development of the Nova Pathfinder and Nova Block 2 launch systems, as well as the expansion of testing and launch infrastructure.
The Nova Pathfinder rocket features seven Zenith engines utilizing full-flow staged combustion and running on liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas. Its upper stage uses a metal heat shield cooled by liquid hydrogen and is equipped with 12 small thrusters. A prototype of this system successfully completed a 10-meter hop test in 2023.
The company plans to launch the Pathfinder on its maiden orbital mission in early 2027, followed by additional flights through 2028. Simultaneously, development is underway for the more powerful Nova Block 2, designed to deliver 15 tons of payload to low Earth orbit. Its first launch is scheduled for 2029, with the system intended to compete with Falcon 9 and Neutron rockets.
Infrastructure plans include expanding the Moses Lake test site in Washington from 30 hectares to 192 hectares. Additionally, Stoke Space is constructing a launch complex at the CCSFS Space Launch Complex-14 in Florida and developing a maritime platform for rocket recovery in the ocean.
