Sen. Daughtry introduces bill to support emerging aerospace industry in Maine

AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, February 1, Sen. Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, introduced a bill that would help leverage Maine’s assets to establish the state as a leader in the space industry. The bill, LD 1923, “An Act To Establish the Maine Space Corporation” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business. 

“Space travel and satellite usage have accelerated substantially in the last ten years,” said Sen. Daughtry. “Maine is uniquely positioned to be a host for the aerospace industry, between our geographic location and universities. The Space Corporation would serve as a guiding council and coordinate between public and private groups to invest in Maine’s future. This proposal fits well into our economic strategic plan by not only expanding new industries but relying on existing systems to grow jobs in STEM, manufacturing jobs, and revitalizing rural communities. I’m excited about the possibilities of the 21st-century space race, which is about democratizing and expanding the industry.” 

As drafted, LD 1923 would establish a public-private partnership to create the Maine Space Complex. The Maine Space Complex would serve as a central hub for Maine’s space industry, facilitate data storage and analysis, research and development, and grow and promote jobs in Maine. Maine is uniquely positioned to be a leader in small launches because of its geographic location, strong STEM programs at universities, history of manufacturing and existing military-grade infrastructure such as the former Loring Airforce Base and Brunswick Landing. 

“While it may sound far off, the space and aerospace economy presents a tremendous opportunity for Maine’s citizens, companies and communities,” said Prof. Ali Abedi, representing the University of Maine System when testifying in favor of LD 1923.

“Increasingly, UMaine has become highly competitive in attracting federal investment, especially from NASA, to advance space knowledge and discovery, and grow our state’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce and aerospace industry. In the past five years alone, NASA has awarded $11.6 million to UMaine faculty research.” 

“To be clear, the Maine Space Complex is not about only launching small satellites on small rockets,” said Dr. Terry Shehata, representing the Maine Space Grant Consortium when testifying in support of LD 1923. “It is about engaging students, researchers, businesses, state and local governments, and communities across the three segments of the new space economy value chain and the underlying infrastructure needed to support these segments.” 

LD 1923 would support pre-existing businesses such as bluShift Aerospace in Brunswick and VALT Enterprises of Presque Isle. VALT Enterprises is a Maine business focused on the development of nanosatellites, and bluShift is an aerospace company that develops bio-derived fuels to launch small satellites into space. By creating the Maine Space Corporation, the state will be able to help facilitate relationships between companies like bluShift and VALT and attract new business here in Maine. The Maine Space Corporation, as outlined in LD 1923, will serve as a centralizing hub for innovation and economic development in the aerospace and space industry in Maine. 

The bill faces further action in committee. 

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