Tim Burbey, Co-Founder and President of the thermal protection systems (TPS) business Blueshift, will use the Space Tech Expo USA to argue for greater investment in innovating new TPS that will enable spacecraft to go further, faster, and last longer with a greater concern for material and energy conservation.
He will consider the future ambitions of space exploration in the context of the falling cost of space travel, alongside the need to control the volume of spacecraft and satellites currently in orbit. It will include whether a new Outer Space Treaty needs to be negotiated, especially given the worrying increase in space debris.
Tim, alongside Danny Kamenecka, Senior Business Development Manager at Blueshift, will discuss upcoming initiatives from NASA, which include the Artemis Program and NASA Gateway – a lunar-orbit station that will serve as a docking and staging point for space missions – as NASA prepares for expected missions to Mars.
As thermal material experts, handling transient temperatures ranging from -200°C to +2,400°C, Blueshift has supplied its thermal protection systems for applications ranging from electric and hybrid vehicles at altitudes of 2.1km to the Heavy Lift Rockets at over 35,000km in space. With an estimated 5,000ft2 of Blueshift Material currently in orbit, and other 2,000 ft2 prepped for launch, the business has considerable knowledge of the flight and space sector.
Tim and Danny will discuss the recent successes within the field of space exploration, such as the Blue Ghost Lander which successfully touched down on the moon in March 2025, as well as the ongoing space debris issue, a direct result of surging satellite numbers which are projected to exceed 55,000 by 2030.
Also on the agenda, are the falling space travel costs due to innovations by private companies, such as RocketLab. The presentation will conclude with a discussion on the future of NASA and the overall direction of the international space race.
Tim sees this year’s Space Tech Expo as the ideal platform to showcase Blueshift as a leader and innovator in the industry: “The Space Tech Expo for a long time has rightly been recognised as one of the premier events in the space industry.”
Blueshift’s low outgassing materials are used in a variety of locations on satellites (including protection of solar cells and complex electronic devices)
“The presentation will be a great opportunity to showcase our extensive experience within the sector, including our new low-outgassing thermal protection tapes designed for satellites, and to discuss the exciting future the space holds. We’re excited to deliver our thoughts and engage with key decision makers as we continue to push for the stars.”
The Blueshift presentation is scheduled for 3:15PM on June 3rd, 2025. Blueshift’s booth number is 213.
