Stoke Space: The new rocket company in town

Stoke Space, a Washington state-based company founded in 2019, is preparing to launch its Nova rocket from Space Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, a site last used in 1966 for NASA’s Gemini 12 mission. The pad also hosted John Glenn’s 1962 Mercury mission, making him the first American to orbit Earth. Stoke Space was granted access to the historic site in 2023 and completed renovations within 12 months, dismantling remnants of the old Atlas Mercury launch complex. The Nova rocket, designed for uncrewed cargo missions, features a reusable upper-stage fairing equipped with 30 thrusters and four landing legs, enabling it to return to a landing site rather than splashing down in the ocean like competitors such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. Jonathan Lund, vice president of launch and recovery, noted that both stages of the rocket are built for recovery, with the second-stage booster landing on pads or droneships. The newly constructed launch tower stands 100 feet tall, while four lightning protection masts reach 279 feet each. Stoke Space’s facility includes a horizontal integration bay where rockets are prepared before being transported to the pad. The company aims to debut the Nova in late 2026, marking a return to operational status for the landmark site, which was declared a national historic landmark in 1984. Space Launch Complex 14, originally built in 1956 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, hosted Atlas missile tests and the Mercury program before being deactivated in 1967. Its blockhouse, 15 feet thick with concrete and sand, remains intact, featuring periscopes for monitoring launches. Stoke Space’s restoration effort preserves the site’s legacy while adapting it for modern spaceflight, blending historical significance with cutting-edge innovation.