Inside The Startup Building Reusable Rockets

By Y Combinator

Categories: VC, Startup, Design

Summary

Two former Blue Origin engineers are building fully reusable rockets that could open up a new era of space exploration and commerce. Their novel approach to the second-stage capsule could enable over 150 launches per year, a 10x increase.

Key Takeaways

1. To scale launch frequency without scaling infrastructure, focus on full rocket reusability, not just first stage.
2. Develop ultra-efficient rocket engines to enable long-life and rapid reusability, even for the challenging second stage.
3. Use innovative thermal management systems like liquid hydrogen heat exchangers to survive the extreme heat of second stage re-entry.
4. Look for big, unsolved problems in your domain that incumbent players are not adequately addressing.
5. Leverage your previous experience at larger companies to identify and rapidly execute on promising technical solutions.
6. Be willing to take big technical risks as a small startup if you believe you have a viable solution to a major industry challenge.

Topics

• Rocket Engineering
• Reusable Launch Vehicles
• Space Commercialization
• Startup Founding
• Technical Risk-Taking

Transcript Excerpt

The team at Stokepace is going after the holy grail of rocket science. Stoke is building fully and rapidly reusable rockets with aircraftlike reusability. Today, only this section of rockets can be reused. But Stoke Space is focused on the entire rocket, including a stage 2 capsule that will finally be able to survive the brutal re-entry to Earth. This could open the door to all kinds of new opportunities in space. I think if you have something that can go up and come back to the place where you...