Benchmark Space Systems has previously developed and tested thrusters up to 500 Newton Class. Photo: Benchmark Space Systems

The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded Benchmark Space Systems a $2.81 million award to further develop and test thrusters running on ASCENT fuel. ASCENT stands for Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic fuel, and it is an AFRL-developed fuel. 

The award announced Wednesday is a Space Propulsion Research and Innovation for Neutralizing Satellite Threats (SPRINT) award and it’s Benchmark’s second such award in two years. In the first award Benchmark demonstrated a thruster burn with the ASCENT fuel without a catalyst bed. 

Under the new program, Benchmark is building a flight-like 22 Newton thruster to perform advanced ASCENT hot-fire demonstrations and will also deliver a preliminary design of a larger 100 Newton thruster assembly in 2025. The company plans to eventually offer ASCENT-fueled spacecraft in the 10-500 Newton range.

The company recently started a new Advanced Propellants Group, led by Dr. Michael Martin, to spearhead this development. 

“We are non-toxic propulsion professionals who will open the door even wider for ASCENT usage, as we also explore bringing in other underutilized and promising green chemical, electric and hybrid technologies to power the space economy,” Martin commented.