The demonstration launch was conducted this Monday from the Loring Commerce Center, located in Maine, USA.
The American company bluShift Aerospace on Monday performed the “historic flight” of its prototype Stardust 1.0 probe missile, which has become the first launch of a commercial missile powered by biofuel.
A video posted to the company’s YouTube channel shows the plane taking off from the Loring Commerce Center (Maine, USA) and how part of the missile prototype later lands with a parachute.
The low-altitude demonstration launch is the culmination of six years of research and development, in which more than 200 engine tests were conducted with grants from NASA and the Maine Institute of Technology to develop a new modular hybrid rocket engine.
More plans
The Stardust 1.0 is 20 feet tall and can carry loads of just over 8 pounds into the air. It is powered by the MAREVL engine, which runs on biofuel, which, according to bluShift Aerospace, is “cheaply available on US farms”.
“We are a group of engineers and space fans passionate about not only producing rockets to launch satellites and experiments into space, but also protect our planet favorite: the earth, ”says Sascha Deri, CEO of the company.
Established in 2014, BluShift Aerospace develops thrusters that can put small satellites into orbit. The company plans to launch larger rockets to send satellites from Maine into polar orbits.
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