Unpacking Some Big News From The Little Space Company That Could

When you think of the private space exploration industry, a few names probably come to mind i.e. SpaceX and Blue Origin, two of the leading forces in the U.S.

But a number of other smaller, yet no less ambitious, firms seek to make a splash in the aerospace realm. And one of those companies just announced a pretty impressive update.

What is Stoke Space?

If you haven’t heard of this company, you’re not alone. It’s a relatively small space launch firm based in Moses Lake, Washington. But what it lacks in name recognition, it makes up for in moxy.

This week, Stoke Space confirmed that it conducted its first rocket engine test fire just days earlier, touting the outcome as a resounding success.

While that alone might be enough to pop a bottle of champagne, the achievement becomes even more impressive when you consider the unique type of rocket engine Stoke Space is using. We’re talking about a far more efficient form of fuel than almost any other design, involving so-called stage combustion that enters the chamber in the form of a gas.

SpaceX is the only other company with such a launch under its belt — and for a company with just 125 employees, Stoke Space is proving it can hang with the big boys.

What happens next?

The company isn’t satisfied with just proving it can develop and test these engines. Now it’s focused on connecting seven of them to power Nova, a rocket Stoke Space has developed.

And more ambitious yet, the rocket is designed to be fully reusable.

So far, the company has remained tight-lipped about a possible launch date, but current estimates from industry experts say the level of success Stoke Space has exhibited thus far could result in liftoff sometime in 2026.

Chris Agee June 13th, 2024

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