Stoke Space has successfully completed a 15-foot hop test for its reusable upper stage rocket prototype, Hopper 2, where the vehicle lifts off and lands back on the ground 15 seconds later. The test demonstrated crucial systems, including the engine design and heat shield, and provided data that will help refine the prototype's engineering and design. Stoke Space aims to build a 100% reusable launch system with a 24-hour turnaround time, and the company is the second in the world to fly a prototype of a fully reusable upper stage rocket. However, Stoke Space still has a lot of work ahead of it before achieving their goal.
1. Stoke Space completed a significant test in the company's history with the Hopper 2 test vehicle.
2. The test demonstrated crucial systems of the engine design, heat shield, and core components.
3. Stoke Space's approach to space flight is unique, with this test being the upper stage of a bigger vehicle similar to SpaceX's starhopper.
4. The Rocket's design is ambitious and will require more work and testing before full launches and payloads in orbit.
5. Stoke shipped the reusable second stage prototype to their test site in Washington, completed a wet dress rehearsal and a static fire before the hop test.
6. The hop test was a vertical takeoff and vertical landing of the hopper test vehicle with a demonstration of the hydrogen oxygen engine regen-cooled heat shield and differential throttle thrust vector control system.
7. Stoke Space's main goal is to create a 100% reusable launch system with a 24-hour turnaround time.
8. Funding has been consistent since May 2020 with a $225,000 SBIR Phase One Grant from the National Science Foundation, $9.1 million in seed funding, and $65 million in a series A round.
9. Stoke released a tool to track design testing and integration of parts.
10. Stoke will continue to develop and innovate with more testing and improvements in the design.