"First Electric Thruster Successfully Tested by Benchmark Space Systems"
Benchmark Space Systems has successfully flown its first electric thruster, the Xantus, on the Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Weather Systems (EWS) demonstration cubesat. The thruster, acquired through the company's acquisition of Alameda Applied Science Corporation, uses molybdenum as propellant and is expected to be used for end-to-end spacecraft operations, including deorbiting. Benchmark plans to produce more than 50 units this year, with a focus on serving the microsat and ESPA-class spacecraft market.