Kelly Henning - Stoke Space

For the longest time, space launch systems were single use. Now, the focus is shifting towards fully reusable rockets such as those in development by Stoke Space.

On this edition of The Ex Terra Podcast, Tom Patton talks with Kelly Henning, COO of Stoke Space. The company is working to develop fully reusable rockets designed to be flown daily.

Allied Market Research released a report last year indicating that the reusable launch vehicle market is estimated to be worth $1.38 billion in 2025 and grow to $3.56 billion by 2035.

A unique feature of the second stage of the Stoke Space rocket is an actively (regeneratively) cooled metallic re-entry heat shield with an integrated modular LH2/LOX rocket engine that is robust, resilient to damage, and operates with passive failure modes. Designed for minimal refurbishment between flights and unlocking the potential for rapid turnaround.

The first stage of the fully reusable rockets will be powered by 7x LNG/LOX engines and are designed for return to launch site (RTLS) or downrange landing.

Stoke Space Fully Reusable Rockets will Launch from an Historic Site

Stoke space has also secured exclusive access to the historic Launch Complex 14, where John Glenn began his orbital mission in 1962. There is a monument commemorating Glenn’s flight, and the blockhouse has been maintained. However, the site will need some extensive refurbishment, and preserving the history of the site is important to the company. “The large structures, the ramps and some other features have been just, essentially abandoned and left to the elements,” Henning said. “We’re really looking to try to maintain as much of the historical look that it had before.”

How does what happens in space affect your everyday life? The Ex Terra podcast is dedicated to introducing you to many of the interesting people involved in the commercial space industry, and taking you behind the scenes with many of the companies making significant contributions to the new space economy. The podcast is available on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible, Breaker, Overcast, Pocketcasts and Radio Public.