Maine Lobster Fishermen Stall Plans for a New Rocket Launch Site

When you think of Maine, the first thing that comes to mind may not be rockets, but a Brunswick company is trying to change that. BluShift Aerospace launched Maine's first-ever commercial rocket earlier this year and has become the first company in the world to launch a rocket powered by carbon-neutral biofuel. It has been trying to find a suitable location for its mission control facility and a launch site for future space-bound rockets, but the company is receiving some pushback from those who work in one of Maine's more well-known industries.

According totheTimes Record, the town of Jonesport voted 60-4 in favor of putting a six-month moratorium on BluShift's proposed facility, and city officials have said that lobster fishermen are among those who are the most concerned by what effect the rocket launches could have on their schedules and equipment.

琼斯波特·塞克曼·菲什（Joneport Selectman Harry Fish）告诉《媒体》：“龙虾钓鱼是这一地区的主要就业和收入的第一大主要来源。”“他们只是觉得这与他们的钓鱼不兼容。”菲什说，龙虾渔民已经质疑发射器是否会损坏其渔具，或者连接到火箭的降落伞是否会与自己的设备纠缠在一起。

BluShift CEO Sascha Deri says that the company is fine with the moratorium, and with the town exploring what regulations might be required in order for an aerospace company to operate there. Deri has also said that they could adjust their launch times so as not to interfere with "fishing activities," and BluShift has offered to cover the cost of any lines or traps that are damaged by the company's equipment.

Inits proposal toJonesport, it also pledged to equip the rockets and rocket-recovery boats with cameras that would record any incidents involving fishing lines. "Fishing lines will always take priority," the company wrote. "We'll always cut our [parachute] lines first."

"We want to be respectful of folks making a living off the sea. We want to be in harmony with the town. We want to be deliberate in understanding their concerns and addressing any questions,"he toldMainebiz.

Earlier this year, Deri told theTimes Recordthat the company's proprietary fuel was non-toxic and wouldn't harm the environment. "Our fuel — it is a solid — you could drop in the water, the fish could nibble at it, the lobsters could claw at it [and] there would be no ill effects,"he said4月。

Deri says that Jonesport is still the company's first choice for its future activities, but it hasn't ruled out looking outside the state either. "We don't want to wait a year," he said. According to BluShift'swebsite, the company believes its future facility could create "25-35 high paying jobs" for the community, in addition to up to eight contract positions. Its long-term goal is to be launching rockets 32 times a year ten years from now.