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Benchmark has been awarded a NASA Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to advance development of our Aquila Small Spacecraft Transfer Stage (SSTS), a low-cost, small spacecraft compatible solution engineered for delivery of payloads to high-energy orbits, including lunar destinations.
Designed to bridge the accessibility gap between common launch insertion points and mission-critical orbits, Aquila combines Benchmark’s flight-proven high-test peroxide (HTP) bipropellant propulsion with an electric Hall-Effect Thruster resulting in a versatile low-cost, scalable transfer stage. The platform integrates proprietary control electronics, to deliver precise autonomous mobility in space.
The Aquila system is capable of delivering over 50 kg of payload to low lunar orbit (LLO) from a circular low Earth orbit (LEO), and is reconfigurable to trade chemical for electric propulsion depending on mission needs, enabling flexibility in mass, volume, and delta-V profiles.
“Winning Phase II positions Aquila as a game-changer for small satellite missions requiring access to orbits previously dominated by larger, costlier spacecraft,” said Ryan McDevitt, Benchmark’s Chief Technology Officer. “By combining high-thrust and high-endurance technologies with a modular, launch-agnostic design, Aquila opens new doors for both commercial and government customers targeting destinations from GEO to the Moon.”
Most Aquila subsystems are already at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6–9 or are commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS), streamlining the path toward critical design, qualification, and flight infusion by 2026/2027. The Phase II effort will mature Aquila to a flight-ready system architecture, complete with qualification planning, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and expanded mission design studies for beyond-Earth missions.
This milestone builds on Benchmark’s growing reputation as a leader in non-toxic space mobility, with a suite of heritage propulsion systems launched and over 100 thrusters delivered or on order.
To learn about Benchmark's heritage and funded mission capabilities, visit our Solutions page.
About Benchmark Space Systems
Benchmark is a trusted space logistics solutions partner supporting missions from initial concept planning through asset decommission from LEO to the moon. Combining mission experience, heritage propulsion products and advanced control systems, Benchmark delivers unparalleled in-space mobility solutions for the dynamic space era. Benchmark offers a wide array of non-toxic propulsion products, customized propulsion systems, and dedicated mobility solutions enabling space access and maneuvering to meet your mission needs. High-volume production capacity, vertically integrated manufacturing, and a seasoned team of propulsion experts ensure reliable performance backed by decades of system design, development, qualification, and delivery experience. Committed to building a sustainable, secure, and accessible space ecosystem, Benchmark enables resilient, tactically responsive mobility in support of commercial, civil, and defense partners across the industry. To learn more, visit BenchmarkSpaceSystems.com.