bluShift Aerospace

bluShift Aerospace is an employee-owned American aerospace firm based in Brunswick, Maine. Targeting the growing small sat and cube sat launch markets, bluShift is developing suborbital sounding rockets and small-lift orbital rockets which will be launched from a proposed new spaceport in Maine. The company has received primary funding from NASA's SBIR grant program, Maine Technology Institute, and the Maine Space Grant Consortium.

bluShift Aerospace
TypeLaunch services
IndustryAerospace
Founded2014
FoundersSascha Deri
Headquarters
74 Orion St.
Brunswick, Maine
,
United States
Key people
Sascha Deri, CEO
Luke Saindon, SE
Brook Halvorson, LE
ProductsHybrid rocket engines
Bio-derived fuel
Launch vehicles
ServicesSub-orbital and orbital transportation
Number of employees
~10 (2020)
Websiteblushift.aero

History

bluShift Aerospace was founded on the vision of rockets powered by a bio-derived rocket fuel, making them safer for handlers and the environment. This new propulsion technology will allow bluShift to offer cost-competitive rideshares for small numbers of cubesats at a time, to client-preferred orbits, with low wait times to launch.[1]

Timeline

In 2014, Sascha Deri founded bluShift and began iteratively testing a new bio-derived solid fuel.[2]

In 2016, the company moved from Massachusetts to Brunswick Landing in Maine.[3]

In 2017, bluShift optimized its bio-derived rocket fuel formulation with a grant from the Maine Technology Institute.[4]

In 2019, bluShift optimized its modular hybrid rocket engine with a NASA SBIR grant.[5] State Senator Shenna Bellows sponsored legislation to support the development of a spaceport and launch site in Maine.[6] The company's first test launch was initially planned for 2019, but was postponed to early 2020. When the Coronavirus pandemic reached Maine in March 2020, the launch was postponed further.

In 2020, bluShift concluded its engine test firing campaign[7] and attempted first test launch.[8] bluShift performed a low-altitude test launch of the Stardust 1.0 rocket at the beginning of 2021[9], marking the first commercial, bio-fueled rocket launch, as well as the first commercial rocket launch in New England[10]. The company plans to begin launching to orbit by early 2024. Due to Maine's high latitude, their orbital rockets will launch to high-inclination and polar orbits.[11]

Launch history
Launch No. Date/time Vehicle Launch site Apogee Outcome Duration
- October 2020 Stardust Test Launch Stand, Brunswick, Maine N/A (4,000 ft (1,200 m) planned) cancelled N/A
First test launch attempt to be scheduled.[12] Was postponed to December to complete additional tests and final production of first launch vehicle.
- 27 December 2020 07:00 ET Stardust 1.0 Runway, Loring Commerce Center, Maine N/A (4,000 ft (1,200 m) planned) postponed N/A
Second test launch attempt. Stardust design modified during final production, to the "1.0" version. Launch site relocated to Loring Commerce Center near Limestone, Maine. Vehicle was vertical on launch stand, but launch was scrubbed due to unfavorable weather. Team decided to perform several more engine and propellant tests.
- 14 January 2021 07:00 ET Stardust 1.0 Runway, Loring Commerce Center, Maine N/A (4,000 ft (1,200 m) planned) postponed N/A
Third test launch attempt. Vehicle had passed all additional tests. Launch was scrubbed due to unfavorable weather and winds.
1 31 January 2021 15:00 ET Stardust 1.0 Runway, Loring Commerce Center, Maine ~1,250 m (4,100 ft) AGL Success ~2 min
Fourth attempt and first successful test launch. First and second attempts of the day both resulted in failed ignition. Third attempt achieved successful vehicle launch, reached apogee, segment separation, both parachute deployments, and soft touchdown. Carried three payloads in 3U Cubesat form factor enclosures: two commercial customer payloads, from Kellogg Research Lab and Rockets Insights, and one academic, from the Falmouth, Maine High School.[13] Recovery teams on snowmobiles retrieved the rocket components safely. Team is determining possibility of reuse of the vehicle.
2 NET Q2 2021 Stardust 1.0/1.X Runway, Loring Commerce Center, Maine TBA (>4,000 ft (1,200 m) planned) Planned TBD
Second test launch. Possible launch of Stardust 1.0 again, or upgraded 1.X.
3 NET Q3 2021 Stardust 2.0 Runway, Loring Commerce Center, Maine TBA Planned TBD
Third test launch. Possible launch of Stardust 2.0.

Launch vehicles

All bluShift launch vehicles announced thus far will utilize and be based around their Modular Adaptable Rocket Engine for Vehicle Launch (MAREVL) engine in various configurations.

Stardust

Stardust rockets are launched from a mobile launch stand that is horizontal during transportation, and then verticated at the launch site. The truss on the stand is about 3 times the height of the rocket, and has flame diverters at the base.

Stardust 1.0

A single-stage reusable prototype with 8 kg (18 lb) payload capacity that can reach maximum altitudes of up to 2 km (6500 ft).[14] First successfully launched on 31 January, 2021. There is a possibility of future Stardust 1 with minor upgrades and changes following the experimental launches; these vehicles are referred to as Stardust 1.X.

Stardust 2.0

Second single-stage reusable prototype expected to be the primary testing vehicle leading up to all of their future full-sized commercial rockets. Payload capacity is expected to be 30kg. Maximum altitude expected to be between 55-100km (35-62 miles). First launch expected in 2021.[15]

Starless Rogue

A two-stage launch vehicle, the first stage consisting of a cluster of MAREVL engine units, with 30 kg (66 lb) payload capacity, targeting 6-10 minutes of microgravity for payloads on suborbital trajectories of up to 250 km (155 mi). The vehicle can also serve as a hypersonics testbed.[16]

Red Dwarf

A three-stage launch vehicle with 30 kg (66 lb) payload capacity to low-Earth orbit. The focus will be on polar and sun-synchronous orbits with an eventual biweekly launch cadence. First launch planned for 2024.[17]

Brown Dwarf

Was a planned multi-stage sub-orbital launch test vehicle to prepare for regular orbital operational launches with the Red Dwarf rocket. Appears to be no longer actively planned by bluShift and its purpose replaced by the Stardust and Starless Rogue groups of vehicles.

See also

References
  1. "Brunswick rocket company wins NASA grant". Mainebiz. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  2. "One Small Step for Maine". The Maine Mag. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  3. LaClaire, Hannah (2019-07-03). "Brunswick aerospace company wins grant from NASA". Press Herald. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  4. LaClaire, Hannah (2019-07-03). "Brunswick aerospace company wins grant from NASA". Press Herald. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  5. "Brunswick rocket company wins NASA grant". Mainebiz. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  6. https://twitter.com/SaschaDeri/status/1190068183564259337
  7. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhOxP-Uot5-p2Pjf6N-KxNaNZvlmZv8QQ
  8. Record, Brooks PetersSpecial to The Times (2020-09-29). "Brunswick aerospace company sets date for rocket launch". Press Herald. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  9. "bluShift Aerospace launches its first rocket powered by biofuels". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  10. "Completion of Historic Space Launch by Maine Company". onpblog.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  11. Dwyer, Paul. "Lawmakers look to make Maine leader in aerospace industry". wabi.tv. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  12. https://twitter.com/blushiftaero/status/1299843728065130506
  13. "bluShift AeroSpace conducts test launch of prototype rocket engine Stardust 1.0". News Center Maine. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  14. "Stardust Generation 1". bluShift Aerospace. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  15. "Stardust Generation 2". bluShift Aerospace. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  16. "Starless Rogue". bluShift Aerospace. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  17. "Red Dwarf". bluShift Aerospace. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
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