Stoke Space Takes a Leap Towards Reusable Rockets with Upper Stage Hops

Stoke Space, a small launch company, successfully flew its upper stage rocket for the first time in a short test flight. The flight demonstrated the performance of the company's oxygen-hydrogen engine, throttle control system, avionics, software, and ground systems. Stoke Space aims to develop a fully reusable rocket, with the upper stage designed to fly back to Earth and land vertically. The company plans to focus on developing a more traditional first stage and aims for a 2025 debut of its rocket. Stoke Space has been allocated a launch complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and has the potential to become the second company to build a fully reusable rocket.