Steuben, Maine (outlined in red) was a proposed site for a shoreline rocket launch facility. Note how close it is to Acadia National Park. A citizen-initiated referendum on March 11, 2025 blocked rocket launches by a 2 to 1 margin. 

"The ordinance says there can be no commercial rocket launches within the boundaries of Steuben, including by the Maine Space Corporation or the U.S. Space Force. It also bans the retrieval of launch vehicles or payloads.

The ordinance takes effect immediately."

MAINE TOWN BLOCKS COMMERCIAL ROCKET LAUNCHES, INCLUDING OFFSHORE

WMTW, March 12, 2025

Another Maine town may block a rocket company from coming in

Bangor Daily News, February 20, 2025

Steuben Town Council  Oct 18, 2023

When I harvest rockweed for garden fertilizer, I’m working at the rate of $200/hour; it takes me ten hours to harvest, dry, process, and package 50 bushels, a ton of rockweed, and that ton will sell for $2,000.. In order for my business to thrive, the public has to perceive that the waters of downeast Maine are some of the cleanest waters on the planet..

Sascha Deri of bluShift Aerospace says that his company is devoted to “research and education”, but he totally lacks transparency when it comes to informing us about ALL the toxic chemicals that will be involved in his process. Firefighters will have to sign nondisclosure agreements. Mr. Deri says that other rocket companies will follow, and he can’t vouch for the safety of their process. In the culture of rocketry, Elon Musk leads the way with his “iterative technology” (translation: push for a launch, and when things blow up, revise the design and try again)..

Mr. Deri assures us that his launch process is solely in the interest of research and education, and not for military payloads, yet he has accepted funding from the U.S. Space Force!

Fire retardant foams are declared “safe” in material data sheets created by the people who stand to profit from their sale, yet the Department of Defense issues technical data saying that fire retardant foams for munitions storage sites cannot be made non-toxic and free of PFAS. What will be required for rockets?

If you’re willing to support a moratorium on rocket production and launchings in Steuben, please contact me.

News Center Maine, September 25, 2023

Downeast rocket launch site promises industry boom, worrying environmentalists

Times Record, October 5, 2022

Brunswick aerospace companies team up to launch cremated human remains into space

WMTW, September 23, 2022

Ignition! Maine company successfully test-fires new rocket

bluShift Aerospace says it was its biggest and loudest test yet

Maine Biz, June 30, 2022

Brunswick rocket-maker bluShift Aerospace chooses Steuben for its launch site

Bangor Daily News, June 30, 2022

Aerospace company will build a complex and launch rockets from small Down East town

Spectrum News, June 30, 2022

brunswick rocket company chooses Steuben as its mission control, bringing jobs to the area

Maine Public, June 30, 2022

Maine rocket company finds new host town for launch operations

WMTW News, July 1, 2022

Maine town selected as the site of a sustainable rocket company

WFVX Bangor, July 1, 2022

blueshift aerospace finds new home

Portland Press Herald, July 1, 2022

Brunswick aerospace company to build Downeast launch site

WABI-TV, July 1, 2022

Steuben chosen as site of of Maine’s first sustainable space complex

Rocket company Downeast bound

Ellsworth American, July 6, 2022