Nova Vehicle Overview
A complete overview of the Nova launch vehicle, including launch stats, vehicle info and launch locations.
Basic Info
Name
Nova
Family
Nova
Manufacturer
First Launch
Not Yet Launched
Successful Launches
0
Failed Launches
0
Rocket Info
Status
Active
Stages
2
Length
40.2 m
Diameter
4.2 m
Launch Mass
227 tons
Thrust
3,110 kN
Reusability
Reusable
Payload Info
LEO Capacity
3,000 kg
GTO Capacity
2,500 kg
Stoke Space’s Nova launch vehicle is a planned fully reusable 2-stage rocket.
The 1st stage uses 7 Zenith Full-flow staged-combustion (FFSC) engines using Liquified natural gas/liquid oxygen (LNG/LOX) as fuel, with restartable capability and landing legs for landing.
The 2nd stage is unconventionally designed around a 24-thrust chamber liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen (LH2/LOX) expander cycle rocket engine that surrounds a regeneratively cooled heat shield, thus enabling the upper stage to return to Earth from orbit without thermal tiles. The nozzle accommodates deep throttle operation even in the presence of atmospheric pressure and serves as an actively cooled metallic heat shield during atmospheric reentry. There is also a center passive bleed that aims to create an aerospike engine-like effect for improved efficiency.
Launch Sites used by Nova
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Historic U.S. military rocket launch site, pivotal in space exploration and national security.