Overview
- Stoke completed the initial close of a $1 billion Series E that brings its total funding to about $2.3 billion, a financing move reported on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026.
- The company says the cash will scale production, expand test and launch infrastructure and speed work on both Nova Pathfinder and a larger Nova Block 2, with Pathfinder targeted for an early‑2027 debut.
- Pathfinder has a booked manifest that includes an AstroForge payload for its planned first orbital flight, but that launch date is a company target and the vehicle has not yet reached orbit.
- Technically, Stoke is pursuing full two‑stage reusability with full‑flow staged‑combustion first‑stage engines and an actively cooled metallic upper‑stage heat shield that circulates super‑cooled liquid hydrogen to survive reentry.
- Analysts and investors view the upcoming flights as the critical test of Stoke’s approach; one report put the round’s valuation near $10 billion and success could ease launch supply strains, while failure would undercut investor confidence.