News

Oct 25, 2024

Brunswick-based Aerospace company one step further to a space launch

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. A Brunswick-based company, bluShift Aerospace, pulled off another full-duration engine test Thursday evening at Brunswick Executive

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

A Brunswick-based company, bluShift Aerospace, pulled off another full-duration engine test Thursday evening at Brunswick Executive Airport.

“We're really proud of what we're doing here because we're doing aerospace in a way that nobody else is doing,” said bluShift Aerospace CEO Sascha Deri.

The company strives to make an eco-friendlier space industry, using carbon-neutral biofuel for their rockets.

“The carbon that we emit when we burn it is the same amount as is consumed in the plant processes that make our fuel in the first place," Deri said. "We're very proud of that.”

The test done Thursday marked another step towards getting Maine to become a bigger player in the space industry. It also helps determine when they’re ready to launch.

Thursday night’s test analyzed the power and reliability of the engine, seeing if it’s durable enough to one day take their rocket into space. The company hoped Thursday's trial would be better than their last test in September.

“We had some instabilities at the end of the test, so our engineering team and tech team have worked very hard over the last month and a half to address those issues," Deri said.

Deri said the engine had a much better burn this time and lasted for about a minute.

“I'm excited, I’m pumped, and I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight,” Deri said.

The next engine test is expected to happen in the coming months. If all goes according to plan, the company is gearing up to go to space with a rocket next year.