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Benchmark Space Systems develops non-toxic, green propulsion systems for small satellites, offering both chemical and electric thruster products for the smallsat market.
ACTIVEBenchmark Space Systems designs and manufactures in-space propulsion systems, including High-Test Peroxide chemical systems, ASCENT monopropellant systems and electric propulsion systems, from facilities in Vermont and California.
Founded in 2017, Benchmark Space Systems is addressing the growing need for safe, high-performance propulsion for small satellites. Traditional satellite propulsion often uses toxic hydrazine, which increases cost and complexity. Benchmark develops green bipropellant thrusters using non-toxic propellants that can be handled safely, reducing launch integration costs. The company offers products ranging from low-thrust electric systems to high-thrust chemical engines, covering missions from station-keeping to orbit transfer. Benchmark has secured contracts from the US Space Force and commercial satellite operators, positioning itself as a key supplier in the NewSpace propulsion market.
Rank 83 of 93 ranked companies. With the pillars we have not measured for this company filled at the 10th and 90th percentiles of the companies we did measure, and every other company held at its published total, the rank is likely between 71 and 91.
4 of 7 inputs measured · Medium confidence · 81% of applicable weight backed by data
Not measured: Market value, Reported revenue
Not measured: Open-role change (90 days)
A pillar score averages the company’s percentiles among the tracked companies with a value: relative standing, not a grade. Inputs measured 2026-10-14 (UTC) · methodology v6. Every input, its value and percentile · How it is computed
The Space Score ranks companies relative to each other on public data we hold. It describes; it does not rate, forecast or recommend. It is not a credit rating and not investment advice. Full disclaimer
Sources: Founded, Headquarters, CEO, Employees, Legal name
For information only, not investment advice. SpaceNexus is not a registered investment adviser, broker or dealer, and nothing here is a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Data may be delayed, estimated or incomplete; check the source before acting. Full disclaimer
6 private rounds on record. Debt, grants, state capital, owner funding and acquisitions are listed under Funding history by class and not added in.
Latest government contract
WARM GAS GENERATOR RESISTOJET MICROPROPULSION SYSTEM
NASA · $750K · Jul 28, 2020
Latest funding round
equity · $2M
Jun 9, 2025
High-test peroxide (HTP) chemical propulsion for small satellites, offered as a monopropellant system (1 to 10 N per thruster) and a higher-performance bipropellant variant, Halcyon Avant (20 N).
Simple, reliable cold gas propulsion module for CubeSat attitude control and small maneuvers.
Low-thrust electric propulsion system for long-duration smallsat station-keeping and orbit maintenance.
Checking for a discussion…
Compiled Oct 14, 2026 from 9 public records. Every figure links the record it comes from.
Space federal awards
2 awards, $871K obligated
Awards with activity since Oct 1, 2018, as searched Sep 24, 2026. Awarded Aug 19, 2019 to Jul 28, 2020; most from NASA (2 awards)
Counts awards the government's own product code or programme title marks as space work, or the space research industry code; the satellite-telecoms industry code counts only together with a space agency, office or a space word in the award's own description. Obligated dollars, not ceilings; umbrella contracts (IDVs) are left out because their orders are counted one by one. Amounts as USAspending reported them on Sep 24, 2026.
Source: USAspending.gov recipient profile (all awards, not only space)
Latest award Jul 28, 2020
Latest space award
$750K from NASA
WARM GAS GENERATOR RESISTOJET MICROPROPULSION SYSTEM
Source: USAspending.gov award record
Awarded Jul 28, 2020
Form D notices
11 offerings reported on Form D
Latest filed Jul 2, 2025; first sale Jun 9, 2025; 3 of them last updated by an amendment (D/A)
Each offering counts once: a later amendment (Form D/A) replaces its original. Form D names no round label and no investors. Filings for a merger or SPAC deal are left out.
Latest sourced round
Equity round: $2.4M
Reported on Form D filed Jul 2, 2025; the date shown is the first sale
Source: SEC EDGAR
First sale Jun 9, 2025
Sourced rounds on record
11 rounds, $72.3M disclosed
Every round has a disclosed amount
Published rounds with a source link only, on the same rules as the funding tracker. Each round links the source that states its figure; amounts in other currencies are converted to dollars at the rate shown on the funding tracker.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2 space awards, $871K obligated
USAspending.gov award record, Jul 28, 2020
APA
SpaceNexus. (2026, October 14). Benchmark Space Systems: Company dossier [Data set]. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://spacenexus.us/company-profiles/benchmark-space-systems
Chicago
SpaceNexus. "Benchmark Space Systems: Company dossier." Data as of October 14, 2026. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://spacenexus.us/company-profiles/benchmark-space-systems.
BibTeX
@misc{spacenexus_benchmarkspacesystems_2026,
author = {{SpaceNexus}},
title = {{Benchmark Space Systems}: Company dossier},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
howpublished = {\url{https://spacenexus.us/company-profiles/benchmark-space-systems}},
url = {https://spacenexus.us/company-profiles/benchmark-space-systems},
urldate = {2026-10-14},
note = {Data as of 2026-10-14; each fact links its primary source}
}