Stoke Space and Relativity Space Advance LC-14 and LC-16 Toward First Flights

Along Missile Row at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, two private launch providers are moving their new launch complexes closer to operational status. Stoke Space is preparing Launch Complex‑14 (LC‑14) for the first flight of its small‑satellite rocket, while Relativity Space is advancing Launch Complex‑16 (LC‑16) toward the maiden launch of its 3‑stage R‑Star vehicle. Both sites are situated on the historic Missile Row corridor, a stretch of Cape infrastructure that has supported U.S. spaceflight since the 1950s.

Stoke Space’s LC‑14 is a compact, reusable pad designed to accommodate its 4‑tonne “Stoke‑1” vehicle. The company has completed pad construction and is conducting static‑fire tests of the rocket’s Merlin‑derived engines. Relativity Space, meanwhile, is finalizing the 3‑stage R‑Star’s 3‑D‑printed aluminum‑lithium alloy airframe and installing the launch‑pad support infrastructure at LC‑16. Both companies have announced target launch windows for late 2026, with each company’s first flight expected to demonstrate the viability of their respective propulsion and manufacturing approaches.

With LC‑14 and LC‑16 approaching readiness, the Cape’s launch portfolio will expand to include two additional commercial launch sites that emphasize rapid development and cost efficiency. The successful first flights of Stoke‑1 and R‑Star would provide new options for small‑satellite operators and further diversify the commercial launch market at Cape Canaveral.