The Kent, Washington company closed a $1 billion Series E, bringing total funding to $2.3 billion, to finish development of its Nova Pathfinder demonstrator and a larger Nova Block 2 designed to carry up to 15 metric tons to LEO.
Both designs aim for full and rapid reusability, featuring Stoke’s Zenith full‑flow staged‑combustion engines and an atypical, actively cooled metal heat shield on the upper stage.
Stoke targets an initial orbital launch in early 2027 and says Pathfinder is the largest first rocket ever attempted by a U.S. launch company.
Stoke Space announced a $1 billion Series E financing round to speed development of its fully reusable Nova family of rockets. The company said the new capital pushes its total investor haul to $2.3 billion. Stoke is based in Kent, Washington and describes Nova Pathfinder as its first orbital launch vehicle and a proving ground for technologies planned for a larger Nova Block 2.
The funding finances continued work on both Nova Pathfinder and a newly revealed Nova Block 2. Pathfinder is intended to demonstrate Stoke's approach to rapid, full reusability. Block 2 scales that approach: Stoke says it will use twice the number of first‑stage engines and can deliver up to 15 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO).
First stage: Both vehicles use a cluster of Stoke‑designed Zenith engines running a full‑flow staged‑combustion (FFSC) cycle and burning liquid oxygen with liquefied natural gas (LNG). Pathfinder's first stage has seven Zenith engines. Nova Block 2 will carry 14 Zeniths.
Stoke emphasizes FFSC as a difficult engine cycle but one that reduces residuals such as soot and lowers maintenance needs between flights.
Stoke intends to use Nova Pathfinder to prove its reusable architecture and iterate toward operational cadence. The company set a target for its first-ever orbital launch in "early 2027." Stoke described Pathfinder as the largest first rocket ever undertaken by a U.S. launch company.
Stoke CEO and co‑founder Andy Lapsa said the investment "enables us to scale toward delivering the capability and cadence our customers require," reflecting the company's focus on reusability plus higher flight rates.
Stoke used a fresh $1 billion financing round to accelerate its plan for fully reusable rockets. Nova Pathfinder will demonstrate the company's engine, thermal protection, and upper‑stage concepts. Nova Block 2 scales those systems to a vehicle Stoke says can place as much as 15 metric tons into LEO. The company is targeting its first orbital flight in early 2027 and positions Pathfinder as the technical stepping stone to repeated, rapid reuse.
Stoke Space has closed the first tranche of a billion-dollar Series E, co-led by Point72 Ventures and Spark Capital, taking its total to $2.3bn. It is building a fully reusable rocket, which nobody has yet flown to orbit. Its own first orbital launch is targeted for early 2027. Stoke Space has … Source
Stoke has "completed the initial closing" of a $1B Series E round intended to help it reach orbit and prepare a new, larger rocket for operations.
The space economy will grow exactly as fast as we can launch rockets.
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