In a landmark achievement for spacecraft propulsion, Benchmark Space Systems has successfully demonstrated the world’s first high-throughput, large-scale hotfire of a 22-Newton ASCENT thruster. The historic test campaign, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Edwards Air Force Base, marks ASCENT’s definitive transition from a developmental technology into an operationally ready propulsion system.
The thruster performed a series of sustained burns in a vacuum environment, culminating in a continuous 10-minute firing—the highest throughput ever recorded for an ASCENT-class monopropellant system. Critically, the unit concluded the rigorous campaign fully operational, indicating a significantly extended lifetime potential for long-duration space maneuvers. This performance proves that ASCENT, a government-developed “green” monopropellant, can now deliver the high thrust and total impulse previously exclusive to more complex, costly bipropellant systems.
“For mission planners, this is the moment ASCENT became real,” said Peter Woodson, Benchmark’s Executive Vice President for Mission Success. “Our 22-Newton thruster didn’t just meet expectations; it exceeded them. Mission planners can now reliably specify ASCENT for sustained mobility on spacecraft in the 250 to 1000 kg range.”
This breakthrough shatters previous limitations. Until now, ASCENT was confined to small, low-thrust applications (typically 1-Newton or less). Benchmark’s successful scaling to 22 Newtons unlocks new possibilities for larger spacecraft, enabling high delta-V maneuvers like orbital transfers and responsive on-orbit repositioning for both defense and commercial operators. The thruster’s thermal ignition design eliminates traditional catalytic beds, creating a more robust, cost-effective, and scalable platform.
CEO Wesley Grove emphasized the strategic impact: “This is exactly what defense leadership has been asking for—industry delivering expanded national security capability now. ASCENT is ready to provide the mobility advantage our missions require.”
With the ground test milestone complete, Benchmark’s roadmap focuses on qualifying the 22-Newton “Macaw” thruster for flight. The company is also advancing parallel development of a 100-Newton class thruster with AFRL. By turning challenging propellants like ASCENT into operational systems, Benchmark is cementing its role as a leader in next-generation U.S. space propulsion, inviting mission planners to integrate this proven capability into upcoming architectures.
