In a nondescript industrial park in Kent, Washington, a team of engineers is working on something that could reshape the space industry. Stoke Space, founded in 2019 by former Blue Origin engineers Andy Lapsa and Tom Feldman, has raised $860 million in funding to build the world's first fully and rapidly reusable rocket.
While SpaceX proved that first-stage boosters could land and fly again, Stoke is going further — designing both the first and second stages of their rocket to be reusable from day one. It's the holy grail of rocketry, and investors are betting big that this Pacific Northwest startup can pull it off.
"Every other rocket company treats the second stage as disposable," says Lapsa. "We're building something fundamentally different."
The company's approach uses a unique heat shield design and a novel engine configuration that allows the upper stage to survive re-entry — the technical challenge that has stumped the industry for decades. Their test vehicle, Hopper, has already completed successful vertical takeoff and landing tests at their facility in Moses Lake, Washington.
The $860 million raise, led by a consortium of aerospace-focused venture firms, values the company in the billions and positions Stoke as one of the most well-funded private rocket companies in the world. The money will go toward building their full-scale Nova rocket and constructing a launch facility.
For the Pacific Northwest, Stoke represents a growing cluster of aerospace innovation. Between Blue Origin in Kent, Stoke Space, and dozens of smaller suppliers, the region is quietly becoming America's second space coast. The company employs over 300 people locally, with plans to double headcount by 2027.
Their first orbital launch is targeted for late 2027. If they succeed, it won't just be a milestone for one company — it'll be proof that the future of space is being built in Washington state.