Benchmark Team Performs Simultaneous Bi-Coastal Hotfire Testing

Firing the 22 Newton Ocelot Thruster in Benchmark's California R&D Facility

Our team performed our first simultaneous bi-coastal hotfire testing from our Pleasanton, CA research & development facility and on our newly installed test stand at our east coast headquarters in Vermont.  

The west coast team tested our flight-proven, 22 Newton bipropellant “Ocelot” thruster, which underwent several rapid iterations and performance leaps since its heritage flight on an orbit transfer vehicle in 2022. Using a packed bed catalyst and a radiative-cooled refractory chamber, Ocelot demonstrated 22N of thrust, 290s of Isp and an unlimited burn duration in bipropellant mode, while also supplying low minimum impulse bits as a catalytic monopropellant thruster when required. Combined with the unusually high impulse density and easy handling of its propellants, this makes ‘Ocelot’, and bipropellant peroxide in general, an attractive new solution set for in-space maneuverability and control for ESPA class, Orbit Transfer Vehicles, and re-entry missions.   

The 2 Newton Lynx Thruster Firing in Vermont

Our east coast team tested our 2 Newton Lynx thrusters, of which dozens will be produced this year for upcoming missions for space vehicles in the 50-500kg range. Lynx uses hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer and octane as fuel. This combination provides a specific impulse of 300 seconds in bipropellant mode and a low-thrust (~1 N) monoprop mode for precision maneuvers. These two modes enable satellite operators to optimize their propellant usage for both large Delta-V maneuvers and precise pointing.

Thank you to our veteran California hotfire team, and congratulations to our newly-minted Vermont hotfire cohort. This dual-capability, along with additional increased testing abilities at our headquarters, allows us to further streamline operations and reduce delivery timelines to our mission partners and continue our rigorous testing methodologies to deliver best-in-class propulsion technologies.

Check out our video Welcome to Benchmark's Headquarters for an additional overview of our capabilities.               

 For details regarding Thruster specifications download the Thruster Data Sheet