Xantus Metal Plasma Thruster Completes Fourth Round of Successful Testing at NASA Glenn Research Center
High-speed frame rate of molybdenum ejected from the puck face during Xantus testing
Destined for Orion Space Solutions’ EWS (Electro Optical Weather System) mission this year, Xantus Metal Plasma Thruster recently underwent a fourth round of rigorous independent testing at NASA Glenn Research Center to directly measure impulse and thrust on the current, in-production flight unit design.
Benchmark’s VP of Electric Propulsion on-site at NASA GRC to oversee testing of the actual flight unit on the thrust stand
Kent Frankovich, a key member of the original design team and VP of Electric Propulsion at Benchmark, was on site to oversee testing of the actual flight unit on the thrust stand. Utilizing a closed-loop fire methodology, Xantus was able to produce precise thrust on demand, validating steady-state thrust across power levels between 0W to 50W, on a world-class test stand configured specifically for measuring millinewton class systems (uniquely small among the breadth of capability at NASA’s electric propulsion division). 
In addition to the current flight unit testing, thrust and impulse data was gathered for promising alternative propellants, which may offer unique advantages for specific missions and regimes. The thrust stand data confirmed that the same specific alloy of stainless steel currently available from the balloon tanks of discarded launch vehicle second-stages, which constitute a sizeable chunk of on-orbit debris, is a viable fuel source for Xantus.
Xantus is a critical piece to precision maneuvers and in-space servicing, as well as Benchmark’s hybrid propulsion strategy to support a variety of on-orbit operations by providing complementary technology to existing flight-proven, high-thrust chemical propulsion systems.
Visit our product page for additional information, including technical specifications. 
Xantus can utilize just about any metal as fuel, with direct thrust data using molybdenum, magnesium, copper, and stainless steel (potentially harvested from existing space debris)
Additional Information:
Download the Xantus Data Sheet
Read our update: Xantus Metal Plasma Thruster Delivered Ahead of Schedule
Read our Q&A with Vice President, Electric Propulsion, Kent Frankovich Developing and Testing Propellant Flexibility for Xantus Metal Plasma Thruster System
Read our Press Release: Benchmark Space Systems Fires Up Metal Plasma And Bi-Prop Thruster Production, Realigns Senior Executive Team To Deliver On Intensifying Hybrid Propulsion System Demand
Listen to The Orbital Mechanics Podcast Interview with Chris Carella and Dr. Mahadevan Krishnan
Read our Press Release: The Space Economy Gets Major Tech Advancement With Hybrid Mobility Packages