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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.