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Throttle Up

Throttle Up

By: Sascha Deri & Justin Starbird
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Welcome to Throttle Up, a behind-the-scenes look at how bluShift Aerospace is building and launching a new class of rocket propulsion. In each episode, we take you inside the engineering, the decisions, and the momentum it takes to get from concept to liftoff.Sascha Deri & Justin Starbird Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Why bluShift isn't trying to be a "mini-SpaceX" (and why that's our biggest advantage)
    Jun 24 2026

    Everyone is obsessing over the SpaceX IPO valuation, but while the headlines scream about billions, we’re looking at the actual rocket motors.

    In this episode, Sascha Deri, CEO and Founder of bluShift Aerospace, joins us to break down the "SpaceX effect" on the industry (and explaining exactly why we refuse to play the "mini-SpaceX" game!). We’re cutting through the buzzword-heavy noise to talk about where the real value is hiding: solving the brutal, unglamorous supply chain issues that most people are ignoring.

    We’re also opening up about why we’re building the future of propulsion from an RV in Maine, not a glass office in the Valley. If you want a take on aerospace that values real hardware over hype, you’re in the right place!

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    27 mins
  • The 60-Second Pucker
    Jun 17 2026

    Ever wonder what it’s actually like to test a rocket engine? It’s not always the high-gloss, Hollywood-style launch you see on TV. In this episode, Sascha Deri, founder and CEO of bluShift Aerospace, joins us for a raw, unfiltered look at the reality of rocket development.

    Join us as we pull back the curtain on the upcoming July 16 hot fire test of the MAREVL Engine!

    Sascha talks about the "60-second pucker moment", that high-stakes window where he forgets to breathe and puts everything on the line. But this isn't just about whether the engine fires or not; it’s about the "farmer wisdom" approach to aerospace: engineering for maximum performance, stability, and, most importantly, cost-effectiveness.

    If you want the real story (the good, the bad, and the ugly!) this is it.

    Join us as we discuss why we aren't chasing "West Coast flash" and what it takes to build a rocket company that actually makes sense!

    Follow the mission!

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    27 mins
  • What Truly Separates a Successful Rocket Test from a Successful Flight
    Jun 10 2026

    Want the insider truth about rocket science!?

    Forget the spectacle. On this episode of Throttle Up, bluShift Aerospace engineers Luke Saindon and Gerard Desjardins join Justin Starbird to pull back the curtain on the unseen world of getting a rocket off the ground.

    We dive into high-stakes FAA licensing, the terrifying reality of failure probability, and the logistical nightmare of turning a test engine into a flight-ready system.

    Hear how a successful engine test can still mean a 50/50 chance at launch, and what happens when a rogue fire extinguisher valve sabotages the entire day.

    Stop watching the countdown, tune in now for the unfiltered engineering truth!

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    36 mins
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