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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 M A R C H 4 , 2 0 1 9 F O C U S M A N U FA C T U R I N G Producing parts and components related to aerospace, companies are poised for development of a nanosat- ellite sector, Martin says. Terry Shehata, director of the nonprofit Maine Space Grant Consortium, agrees. He initiated an ambitious plan to develop a spaceport called the Maine Space Entrepreneur and Innovation Complex for students, educators and researchers. Shehata says Maine's advantages for a nanosatellite sector include an existing aerospace industry, as well as infrastructure and location: Maine's coastline provides direct access to "polar orbits," the equivalent of prime real estate for space researchers. e spaceport would be a public- private partnership that would include companies that already have sites in Maine, including Texas Instruments, Bath Iron Works, Pratt & Whitney and ON Semiconductor. It would attract additional research and devel- opment companies, startups, manu- facturers, data analysis professionals, launch providers and suppliers to Maine, Shehata predicts. Unlike other complexes around the country, which are focused on launch facilities, Maine's would include research and commercializa- tion opportunities and education and workforce training, he says. e consortium is conducting a market study on the idea. Funded by grants from the Maine Technology Institute and NASA, it's expected out this summer. "We have to make sure there are users and clients out there on a national scale willing to invest in a spaceport in Maine," says Shehata. e concept could inject new energy into Maine's aerospace sector, Martin says. "Ten years ago, really nobody was talking aerospace in the state of Maine," Martin says. "People said, 'Maine? Aerospace?' Now, we have pretty substantial interest." Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz There is simply no substitute for good judgment and getting things right the first time. That's where Drummond Woodsum attorneys Dan Rose, Pete Felmly, Laurel McClead, Tom Trenholm and Elek Miller can help. A group of highly specialized attorneys focused on providing human resource professionals with the guidance they need in dealing with personnel matters. We practice law differently. Since 1965. dwmlaw.com | 800.727.1941 Workplace Solutions for Maine Employers A constant supply of power is crucial for any business or industry. So you want the expertise of true generator specialists when choosing your source of automatic standby power. As Maine's exclusive, statewide distributor of Generac industrial generators, Electrical Systems of Maine is the only resource you need. MATT@ELECTRICALSYSTEMSOFMAINE.COM WWW.ELECTRICALSYSTEMSOFMAINE.COM 207-783-7126 CAN YOUR BUSINESS OPERATE WITHOUT POWER? • GENERATOR SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION • DESIGN • BUDGETING We found there were people who needed access to space, at specific places and times. — Karl Hoose VALT