--- title: "\"There's No Need To Be So Toxic!\" Interview by The Downlink, A Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast" description: "\"There's No Need To Be So Toxic!\" Interview by The Downlink, A Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast\n‍" image: https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/hubfs/01.13.2023%20The%20Downlink%20Chris%20and%20Sammy.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/news/post/the-downlink-a-defense-aerospace-report-podcast-interview-with-sammy-graham-and-chris-carella#main-content) [![Benchmark Space Systems](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Benchmark-Logo-ALLWHITE.png?width=160&height=38&name=Benchmark-Logo-ALLWHITE.png)](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/) [![Benchmark Space Systems](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Benchmark%20Logo%20Color%20Transparent%20Background.png?width=160&height=38&name=Benchmark%20Logo%20Color%20Transparent%20Background.png)](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/) - [Home](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com) - [Products](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/products) - [High-Test Peroxide Systems](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/products/high-test-peroxide) - [ASCENT Systems](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/ascent) - [Electric Propulsion Systems](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/products-electric-propulsion) - [Company](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/company) - [News](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/news) - [Careers](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/careers) - [Contact](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/contact-us) - [Home](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com) - [Products](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/products) - [High-Test Peroxide Systems](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/products/high-test-peroxide) - [ASCENT Systems](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/ascent) - [Electric Propulsion Systems](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/products-electric-propulsion) - [Company](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/company) - [News](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/news) - [Careers](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/careers) - [Contact](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/contact-us) [High-Test Peroxide](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/news/tag/high-test-peroxide) # "There's No Need To Be So Toxic!" Interview by The Downlink, A Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast - By [Benchmark Space Systems](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/news/author/benchmark-space-systems) - Jan 16, 2023 ![01.13.2023 The Downlink Chris and Sammy](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/01.13.2023%20The%20Downlink%20Chris%20and%20Sammy.jpg?width=400&height=434&name=01.13.2023%20The%20Downlink%20Chris%20and%20Sammy.jpg) ## The Downlink, A Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, interview with Benchmark's Sammy Graham and Chris Carella Laura Winter of [The Downlink, A Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast](https://defaeroreport.com/2023/01/15/the-downlink-jan-15-23-theres-no-need-to-be-so-toxic/#prettyPhoto), interviewed Benchmark's Propellant Chemist/Propulsion Engineer [Sammy Graham](https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-graham-7525ab76/) and EVP, Business Development & Strategy, [Chris Carella](https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-carella-innovate/) for her episode "There’s No Need To Be So Toxic!" Sammy is a chemist and propulsion engineer with a degree in Chemistry & Physics from Cambridge and specialized in Propellant Chemistry at European Astrotech in the UK. After years of experience with propellant R&D and traveling around the world to launch sites, she came to Benchmark because, *"Green propellants are much, much nicer to work on, and the shift in the space industry is towards green propellants."*  Sammy discusses the dangers of working with hydrazine to the human body, the environment and more, plus greener alternatives like the HTP that Benchmark utilizes. Sammy touches on the chemistry of various propellants in this discussion. ![Head-Shot---Chris-Carella](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Head-Shot---Chris-Carella.jpg?width=400&height=385&name=Head-Shot---Chris-Carella.jpg)Later in the episode Laura welcomed Chris Carella  and Jeroen Wink, CRO & Co-Founder of [Dawn Aerospace](https://www.dawnaerospace.com/) to discuss the business case for alternative propellants. Chris points out the early signals for green propellant demand, beginning with Benchmark's Co-Founder [Ryan McDevitt's](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-mcdevitt-b217b668/) early days working with NASA before there was a market it for it, plus the tremendous cost and overhead of working with hydrazine. The economics didn't make sense for the growing smallsat market on the commercial side, which continues to drive innovation. HTP is cost effective, available, non-toxic and delivers performance, including high specific impulse. Listen to the episode on these popular platforms: [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-no-need-to-be-so-toxic/id1590387089?i=1000594378493) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/1py08FCxoeapMQoqqrX1uw?si=QF-ExX_ZTiaQK-Yf5R9PVg) [Soundcloud](https://soundcloud.com/thedownlink/theres-no-need-to-be-so-toxic?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fthedownlink%252Ftheres-no-need-to-be-so-toxic) Or directly from The Downlink website: [![The Downlink Soundcloud Image](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Downlink%20Soundcloud%20Image.png?width=697&height=396&name=The%20Downlink%20Soundcloud%20Image.png)](https://soundcloud.com/thedownlink/theres-no-need-to-be-so-toxic?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fthedownlink%252Ftheres-no-need-to-be-so-toxic)   [High-Test Peroxide](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/news/tag/high-test-peroxide) [News](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/news/tag/news) [PREVIOUS POST](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/news/post/developing-and-testing-propellant-flexibility-for-xantus-metal-plasma-thruster-system) ![image](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/hubfs/Xantus%20and%20Kent-1.jpg) ### Developing and Testing Propellant Flexibility for Xantus Metal Plasma Thruster System [NEXT POST](https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/news/post/satellite-evolution-global-magazine-green-propulsion-the-key-to-space-accessibility-and-sustainability) ### Satellite Evolution Global Magazine - 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