BluShift Aerospace

BluShift Aerospace (stylized as bluShift) is an American aerospace company headquartered in Brunswick, Maine, with a West Coast office in Concord, California. Founded in 2014, the company develops hybrid rocket engines that utilise a proprietary biofuel and offers launch services for small satellites and suborbital research missions. In January 2021 BluShift conducted, what is stated as the world's first commercial rocket launch using biofuel.^[1]

The company's funding sources include the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, the Maine Technology Institute, and the Maine Space Grant Consortium. BluShift operates facilities at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station and conducts testing operations at Loring Air Force Base.

bluShift Aerospace was founded in March 2014 by Sascha Deri, who began developing the company after investigating the potential of an agricultural byproduct as a potential rocket fuel. According to Deri he first encountered the material during a visit to his brother’s organic farm in North Yarmouth, Maine. Subsequent testing reportedly showed that the substance preformed favourably when compared to petroleum-based alternatives.^[2] This substance became the basis for the company’s proprietary bio-derived fuel technology.

In 2016, bluShift Aerospace relocated from Massachusetts to Brunswick Landing in Maine, utilizing infrastructure available at the former Naval Air Station.^[3] The site provided access to aerospace testing facilities and technical personnel.

Between 2017 and 2019, the company received grant funding to support its development efforts. A 2017 grant from the Maine Technology Institute supported improvements of the company's biofuel formulation, and a 2019 NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant supported work on a modular hybrid rocket engine design.^[4]

During this period, legislative activity in Maine included a bill sponsored by State Senator Shenna Bellows aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for commercial spaceport development in the state.^[5]

bluShift's initial launch, originally planned for 2019, was delayed for multiple reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and was rescheduled for early 2021.^[6]

In 2020, the company conducted a series of engine tests, completing 154 static fire tests of its hybrid propulsion system in preparation for its first launch.^[7]

On January 31, 2021, following several weather-related delays, bluShift Aerospace conducted the launch of its Stardust 1.0 prototype rocket from the Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine.^[8] The rocket, 20 feet (6 meters) in length, reached an altitude of approximately 1,250 metres before it was recovered via parachute.

According to the company, the launch was the first recorded commercial rocket flight powered entirely by a bio-derived fuel, as well as the first commercial rocket launch conducted in Maine and the broader New England region.^[9][10] It also served as the initial flight test of bluShift’s hybrid propulsion system.

The vehicle carried three experimental payloads housed in 3U CubeSat enclosures, provided by Kellogg Research Lab, Rocket Insights, and Falmouth High School. The company opted not to reuse the vehicle, instead allocating it for post-flight examination.

Following the Stardust 1.0 launch, bluShift Aerospace began expanding its commercial and technical operations. In March 2021, the company launched a public crowdfunding campaign with an initial target of $500,000. By April 2022, the campaign had raised over $1.1 million from more than 1,000 investors worldwide.^[11]

In June 2021, bluShift signed a commercial agreement with Max IQ, a Virginia-based company, to provide launch services for up to 60 small satellites over multiple years, with a planned launch cadence of twice per year.^[12]

The company began construction of its full-scale Modular Adaptable Rocket Engine for Vehicle Launch (MAREVL) 2.0 in October 2021. A successful static fire test of the engine took place in March 2022. The MAREVL engine is designed to power the company’s upcoming Starless Rogue suborbital vehicle and the Red Dwarf orbital launch system.

To support future launch operations, bluShift selected a site near Jonesport and Beals, Maine - approximately 30 miles east of Bar Harbor - after conducting site evaluations and engaging in a regulatory review process. The site is intended to support coastal missions to polar and sun-synchronous orbits.

bluShift participated in the inaugural Maine Space Conference in November 2023, an event organized by the Maine Space Corporation and the NASA Maine Space Grant Consortium. The conference focused on the Maine Space 2030 strategic initiative and brought together participants from government, academia, and private industry.^[13]

In June 2024, the company completed a $1.3 million seed funding round led by Houston-based Late Stage Capital.^[14] Brady Brim-DeForest, managing partner at Late Stage Capital, joined bluShift’s board as chairman. This investment was supplemented by a $1 million federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to support development of the company’s suborbital launch capabilities.

In October 2024, bluShift completed a 60-second static fire test of the MAREVL 2.0 engine with active throttling.^[15] The test concluded a $1.1 million contract with the U.S. Air Force focused on evaluating the engine for booster-stage propulsion applications.

As of 2025, bluShift is preparing for the first launch of its Starless Rogue suborbital rocket, which is expected to carry commercial payloads. The company is pursuing FAA commercial launch licensing, and Spaceport America in New Mexico has been identified as a likely launch site.

The Modular Adaptable Rocket Engine for Vehicle Launch (MAREVL) is a hybrid rocket engine developed by bluShift, which combines solid biofuel with liquid oxidizer, offering advantages over traditional solid or liquid propulsion systems.

The full-scale MAREVL 2.0 engine produces approximately 80 kilonewtons (18,000 lbf) of thrust while consuming about 30 kilograms (66 lb) of combined propellant per second.^[16] The modular design allows multiple engines to be clustered for different vehicle configurations, from small suborbital rockets to larger orbital launch systems.

Unlike solid rocket motors, hybrid engines can be throttled and shut down during flight, providing greater control and safety margins. Compared to liquid rocket engines, hybrids are mechanically simpler, requiring fewer turbopumps, valves, and complex plumbing systems. This simplicity translates to lower manufacturing costs and higher reliability.

The proprietary solid fuel derives from agricultural byproducts, though the specific composition remains confidential. CEO Sascha Deri consumed the fuel publicly to demonstrate its safety. It's also carbon-neutral in its lifecycle, as the organic materials absorb carbon dioxide during growth, offsetting combustion emissions. The oxidizer system uses nitrous oxide enhanced with oxygen.

bluShift estimates their propulsion system costs approximately 50% less than comparable solid or liquid-fueled alternatives, primarily due to readily available feedstock and simplified manufacturing processes.

MAREVL prototypes underwent extensive testing at bluShift's Brunswick facility between 2014 and 2018, alongside experimental biofuel formulations. A scaled-down version completed its test campaign in 2019 and powered the successful Stardust mission.

The full-scale MAREVL 2.0 is currently in an extensive testing program expected to include more than 20 static fire tests. The first test, a 5-second burn completed in March 2022, validated ignition and flow stability. Subsequent tests have progressively extended burn duration and demonstrated throttling capabilities, culminating in the successful 60-second full-duration burn in October 2024.

Testing infrastructure includes custom-built engine stands capable of safely containing full-scale engines, with data collection systems monitoring thrust levels, combustion characteristics, and thermal performance throughout each test cycle.

The Stardust series served as bluShift's technology demonstrator and testbed for the MAREVL propulsion system. These rockets launch from a mobile stand that is horizontal during transport, then raised vertical at the launch site. The truss structure stands about three times the rocket's height with flame diverters at the base. Launch operations are powered by mobile solar electrical units, reflecting the company's commitment to sustainable operations.^[17]

Stardust 1 successfully demonstrated the viability of biofuel propulsion on January 31, 2021. The single-stage reusable prototype carried 8 kg of payloads to 4,000 feet altitude. While there is potential for future Stardust 1 flights with minor upgrades, the vehicle primarily served its purpose as a proof-of-concept.

The planned Stardust 2 would have increased payload capacity to 30 kg with maximum altitudes between 10-50 kilometers, but appears to have been superseded by the Starless Rogue program.^[18]

The Starless Rogue represents bluShift's suborbital platform, designed to provide 6-10 minutes of microgravity for 30 kg payloads on trajectories up to 300 kilometers altitude. The vehicle also serves as a hypersonic testbed for defense applications.^[19]

The two-stage configuration uses clustered MAREVL engines in the first stage, with an upper stage and payload section similar to the planned Stardust 2 design. Starless Rogue Beta serves as a scaled-down, single-stage test version using one MAREVL engine for high-altitude and supersonic testing.

Construction of the first operational Starless Rogue is planned for summer 2025, with launch operations targeted for late 2025 from Spaceport America. The company is pursuing FAA commercial launch licensing, though initial flights may proceed under experimental permits.

Red Dwarf represents bluShift's entry into the orbital launch market, designed to deliver 100 kg payloads to low Earth orbit with focus on polar and sun-synchronous orbits. The two-stage vehicle will eventually operate on a biweekly launch cadence.^[20]

In February 2022, bluShift announced a significant design breakthrough that reduced Red Dwarf from three stages to two while more than tripling payload capacity from 30 kg to 100 kg.^[21] This optimization significantly improved the vehicle's economic viability and competitive position in the small satellite launch market.

The first Red Dwarf launch is planned for 2026, pending successful Starless Rogue operations and full FAA licensing. Due to Maine's high latitude, the vehicle is optimized for high-inclination and polar orbits, though the company is also considering operations from Wallops LC-1 and Cape Canaveral LC-48 for different orbital requirements.

bluShift has designed recovery systems into all their vehicles. Stardust 1 successfully demonstrated parachute recovery, landing safely in snow for post-flight analysis rather than reflight.

For future operations, bluShift plans to recover all stages and payload sections of suborbital rockets, plus first and possibly second stages of orbital vehicles, using parachutes for soft splashdown off Maine's coast. Recovery teams using modified lobster boats will retrieve the hardware.

The company expects stages to handle atmospheric reentry without major issues due to relatively low speeds, with saltwater exposure having minimal impact on refurbishment time. The hybrid rocket design eliminates complex propellant plumbing, making refurbishment simpler compared to liquid-fueled systems.

bluShift targets the rapidly growing small satellite market, particularly nanosatellites and CubeSats that often face long delays and high costs as secondary payloads on larger rockets. The company's Maine coastal location allows for polar and sun-synchronous orbits that are highly sought after for Earth observation satellites.

Beyond their own launch services, bluShift is exploring applications for MAREVL technology as reusable boosters for larger launch vehicles. Recent discussions include partnerships for hypersonic testing at Mach 5 speeds and potential miniaturization for on-orbit propulsion applications.

The company's educational partnerships through Max IQ and other collaborators provide students hands-on experience with real spaceflight hardware through STEM outreach programs.

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• Firefly Aerospace
• Relativity Space
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• Exos Aerospace
• Maritime Launch Services
• Astra Space

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• Official website