The company hopes the launch will attract investors and help pave the way for bigger and more ambitious rockets. Stardust 2.0 (scheduled for 2021) will test for higher speeds and longer flight times, while the Starless Rogue is an operational rocket that would carry suborbital loads. Ultimately, BluShift hopes to launch a Red Dwarf vehicle that carries loads below 66 pounds to Earth’s low orbit.
Like Rocket Lab and SpaceX’s travel sharing program, BluShift hopes to reduce launch costs and make them accessible to a wider range of companies and researchers. The difference, of course, is the fuel – it hopes its non-toxic, carbon-neutral propellant will attract customers who want to minimize its impact on the planet. The challenge is to convince potential customers that BluShift is worth a try instead of more established rivals, especially if they are not particularly concerned about their environmental footprint.