Stoke Space Ships Nova Upper Stage for Critical Testing
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The move to Moses Lake signals a shift toward hardware validation for the company's fully reusable rocket architecture.
Stoke Space has shipped the reusable upper stage of its Nova rocket from its Kent, Washington, factory to a test facility in Moses Lake, Washington, according to reporting from Ars Technica.
While Nova's first stage is a conventional reusable booster, the upper stage is the vehicle's defining feature. Designed for full reusability, the stage utilizes a regeneratively cooled heat shield and is powered by the Andromeda engine, which consists of a ring of 24 thrusters. According to Ars Technica, the hardware will now undergo a hotfire campaign and cryo-proof testing.
This development comes after Nova's first stage successfully completed "proto-qualification" testing earlier this year. The upcoming tests in Moses Lake are described as a linchpin for Stoke Space's goal to launch the Nova rocket next year.