SBIR-STTR Award

As the new space revolution develops, the number of small satellites is expected to grow to thousands launched each year. Following the current commercial satellite demonstration period, production spacecraft and constellations will depend on innovative micro-scaled propulsion technology to meet mission capability and endurance requirements. Most satellite integrators and end-users have not yet identified thruster technology that can meet safety, lead time, and cost objectives.Benchmark Space Systems (BSS) is developing the B125 bipropellant thruster (Specific Impulse Isp = 285s) targeted at commercial and defense small satellite missions. The BSS system uses a patent-pending technique for mixing the oxidizer and a Non-toxic Hypergolic Miscible Fuel to initiate decomposition and combustion without the need for a pre-heated catalyst bed which inherently have significant cost, lead time, and power consumption. The B125 system also takes advantage of our patented on-orbit pressurization subsystem, avoiding several procedural launch costs and regulatory challenges. The propulsion system proposed is based on past work performed by UVM and NASA Goddard. This disruptive solution represents a simple yet sophisticated clean-sheet design, initially aimed at LEO spacecraft and scalable to support future capability roadmaps and rapid technology refresh across commercial and defense applications.micropropulsion,Small Satellites

The overall objective of this SBIR project is to adapt Benchmark Space Systems’ commercially-available chemical propulsion system, the B125, for use in Air Force small satellite missions. During Phase I of the project, Benchmark Space personnel worked with customer/end-users from the AFRL SSP to identify the modifications required to adapt the B125 to meet current and future needs of the broad USAF end-users, and a test and demonstration plan developed to ensure a feasible path to a flight qualified end-item. These adaptations included improving the specific impulse of the thrusters, adding attitude control and relative positioning capabilities, and increasing the resolution of the impulse-bit. In Phase II of this project, the propulsion system will be modified and the AFRL-prescribed tests and laboratory demonstrations will be performed. Empowered and committed AF End-Users have provided an MOU with defined Phase II roles and responsibilities, including a CADRA to include collaborative qual testing at AFRL/RVEN (Kirtland AFB) as well as hot fire testing at AFRL/RQRS (Edwards AFB). A successful test campaign will prepare the hardware for several different Phase III opportunities, with proposed transition support and resources from AFRL/RVKI aimed at ‘FlatSat’ integration and on-orbit technology demonstration.