Tom Feldman
124 posts
@Rkt_Da
CTO/Co-Founder @stoke_space - Rapidly Reusable Rockets
Today, on the anniversary of John Glenn's historic space flight in 1962, we raised the flag over SLC-14 for the first time since breaking ground. It's an honor to be part of America's space history – and its future. 🇺🇸🚀 Special thanks to @SLDelta45 installation commander Colonel Brian L. Chatman, Director. of @NASAKennedy Janet Petro, and @RepHaridopolos for joining us.
Stoke Space is racing to build the world's first fully reusable rockets that can launch, survive reentry, and fly again almost right away. In this episode of Hard Tech, @aaron_epstein sits down with @stoke_space co-founders @AndyLapsa and @Rkt_Da to find out why they chose to take on one of the hardest problems in rocket science, how being a smaller startup gives them an advantage, and what full reusability could unlock for the future of spaceflight. 00:00 — Intro 01:16 — Stoke Space’s mission: Rapid reusability 02:18 — Why Second Stage capsules fail reentry 03:34 — Stoke Space’s stage 2 solution 05:30 — Reusability-First Design Philosophy 07:25 — Early Engine Development & Test Strategy 10:48 — Vertical Integration & Manufacturing 11:21 — Iteration Speed as a Competitive Advantage 12:29 — Software as Core Infrastructure 14:00 — Path to Orbit & Launch Operations 15:04 — How This Could Change The World
Big news – we’ve raised $510M in Series D funding! Total funding is now at $990M. This capital will accelerate our fully reusable Nova rocket development and Launch Complex 14 activation at Cape Canaveral. Incredibly grateful to our investment partners and excited to keep the momentum going! Full details: stokespace.com/stoke-space-te…
🚀 Flame diverter installed at SLC-14. 🔥 Next up: complete water suppression system tests.
Our team just wrapped Stage 2 structural qualification for Nova. 🚀 From cryo ops & 100+ pressurization cycles automated by flight software, to axial & shear loads, the structure proved it exceeds design margins. Huge milestone — great work by every Stoke team that made it happen.
Manufacturing for Nova is in full swing — upgraded Zenith complete, Andromeda’s base heat shield wrapped, Stage 2 structural testing commences. Progress everywhere you look from the rocket factory and beyond. 🚀🏭
So much progress in just one photo: lightning protection systems going in, umbilical tower welding underway, fresh steel lean-to rising, launch-mount shoring coming out, plus diverter-frame and surface fabrication all happening, right now at SLC-14.
After 53,000+ seconds of hotfire testing and 43+ design iterations, we’ve locked in the final Andromeda thruster for flight. From a backyard shipping container a few years ago to powering Nova to space — let’s go! 🚀
Zenith and Andromeda both operating above 100% power level – team is cooking! 🔥
Introducing Andromeda: Our next-generation rapidly reusable upper stage engine. With an integrated metal heat shield—and named after our closest galactic neighbor – Andromeda is designed to make our upper stage reusable without inspections between flights. Learn more about the evolution: 👇 stokespace.com/introducing-an…
That’s quite a truckload 👀
