A Maine-based company is gearing up to send small satellites into space from the rural state, with plans to commence launches as early as next year. BluShift Aerospace, headquartered in Brunswick, aims to establish Maine as a key hub for commercial nanosatellite launches, a goal they have been diligently working towards for over three years. Following a successful round of fundraising, the company announced that commercial suborbital launches are set to begin in 2025.
The small satellite market currently relies heavily on major companies like SpaceX for satellite deployment, resulting in long wait times. BluShift's CEO highlighted the need for dedicated, small-lift satellite deliveries to space, emphasizing the demand for rapid and cost-effective access to space with direct delivery to desired orbits.
Industry representatives noted that the small satellite sector has experienced significant growth in recent years, evolving from an academic concept to one of the fastest-growing segments in the satellite industry. The global market for CubeSats, a class of small satellites, was valued at $210 million in 2021 and is projected to exceed four times that value by 2030.
BluShift intends to utilize an existing spaceport for initial launches and transition to Maine's remote Downeast coastline as a launch headquarters by 2026. The company views the rural coastal location as ideal for launch operations, offering direct access to polar orbit over the Atlantic Ocean with minimal interference.
In a significant milestone, BluShift successfully conducted a test launch of a 20-foot prototype rocket in 2021, reaching an altitude of over 4,000 feet. The rocket, carrying simulated payload in the form of Dutch cookies, demonstrated the company's capabilities.
Furthermore, Brady Brim-DeForest, managing partner at Late Stage Capital of Houston, is set to assume the role of chairman of the board of directors at BluShift. The company's commitment to using nontoxic biofuel and reusable rockets aligns with its mission to democratize access to orbit, making space more accessible and sustainable.
