Introducing the team forging the path to very low lunar orbit.
Benchmark is advancing our Phase 1A/1B feasibility and design effort under DARPA's Lunar Assay via Small Satellite Orbiter (LASSO) program. LASSO evaluates options, then designs the integrated spacecraft systems and architectural readiness required to operate safely and persistently in very low lunar orbit, an environment that pushes propulsion, onboard navigation, and autonomous maneuvering to the edge of today's technical limits.
Firefly Aerospace
Space-ng, now Firefly Aerospace following a recent acquisition, leads the vision navigation hardware and software for the Sapphire mission-class architecture. Their AI-powered vision navigation system brings proven lunar heritage to the study after supporting Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1, the first commercial mission to successfully land on the Moon. The system accurately determined Blue Ghost’s position and attitude, detected hazardous lunar terrain, and autonomously redirected the lander in real-time, enabling a safe, precise touchdown with the Moon’s Mare Crisium. This vision system will continue to gain heritage through Firefly’s growing number of missions to the Moon and beyond.
“We're excited to be on Benchmark's team and by the navigation and autonomy challenges posed by LASSO,” said Ethan Rublee, Chief Software Engineer at Firefly Aerospace. “This work will enable the next generation of highly maneuverable, autonomous mission concepts.”
Autonomous navigation in low lunar orbit (LLO) requires rigorously tested algorithms with low error margins. Firefly’s best-in-class team of engineers is helping design the optimal navigation system for the DARPA LASSO mission. As Benchmark grows into the role of mission provider, we benefit from Firefly’s lunar operation heritage.
Space Exploration Engineering (SEE)
With 60+ successful missions including Lunar Photon (CAPSTONE), LCROSS, LADEE, Clementine, SpaceIL/Beresheet, KPLO/Danuri, and multiple NASA CLPS lunar landers, few teams have done more to shape how humanity returns to the Moon.
For LASSO, SEE leads astrodynamics modeling, mission simulation, trajectory planning, and spacecraft operations for the Sapphire mission-class architecture. They are an industry leader in cislunar and lunar mission design. Very low lunar orbit is one of the most dynamically hostile environments in cislunar space. The steep terrain gradients and gravitational anomalies present challenges that few teams are equipped to model with the precision required. SEE brings analytical rigor and cislunar fluency, along with operational experience you cannot shortcut.
We selected SEE for that heritage and for the way they work. Their team approaches mission design the way Benchmark does. They dig into the hardest problems early, stress-test assumptions, and share responsibility for the outcome.
Becoming a mission provider means investing in the hard mission-design work upfront. SEE brings exactly that depth to LASSO, and we value their partnership as we evaluate the path forward.
Blue Canyon Technologies
Blue Canyon Technologies, RTX’s small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider, is leading the spacecraft bus development for the Sapphire mission-class architecture. As a leader in turnkey small sat solutions, Blue Canyon brings unmatched integration discipline and flight heritage to this project. The company’s Venus-100 minisatellite bus serves as the perfect baseline, backed by 100+ years of on-orbit experience across LEO, GEO, and deep space.
For the LASSO mission, Blue Canyon will provide comprehensive expertise spanning spacecraft architecture, design, integration, and on-orbit operations. This end-to-end capability is critical for operating in one of space’s most demanding environments.
We selected Blue Canyon for their proven heritage and collaborative approach. Bus-level decisions impact every facet of mission performance. Blue Canyon provides the engineering rigor and collaborative mindset that perfectly aligns with Benchmark’s operations. They engage early, stress-test the architecture, and share responsibility for the outcome.
Mission-class spacecraft work requires partners who have built and flown at this level before. Blue Canyon is exactly that, and we're grateful for their role in anchoring the LASSO program.
Colorado School of Mines
Mines brings the economic lens to LASSO. Alongside the technology and design work, Mines leads the Proven Reserve Model (PRM) and economic feasibility analysis for lunar water resource utilization, building the commercial business case for why mapping lunar water ice at economic-grade resolution matters.
Mines’ Space Resources Program is the world’s foremost academic effort of its kind. Few teams are better positioned to connect technical feasibility to commercial viability. Their work helps anchor LASSO to the broader lunar economy, informing how civil, commercial, and defense stakeholders think about lunar water as a resource.
We selected Mines for that depth and for the discipline they bring to a domain that sits at the intersection of science, engineering, and economics. Their analysis sharpens how we evaluate both mission value and mission viability.
Benchmark's expansion beyond propulsion is as much about asking the right questions as engineering the right answers. Mines helps shape both for LASSO, and we're glad to have them on the team.
For additional information regarding DARPA's LASSO program check out Benchmark's press release.
