Halcyon is Benchmark Space Systems' flagship non-toxic ('green') chemical propulsion product line, offering catalytic monopropellant and dual-mode bipropellant thrusters built around High-Test Peroxide for satellites from 3U CubeSats through ESPA-class spacecraft.
Halcyon
Halcyon is Benchmark Space Systems' flagship non-toxic ('green') chemical propulsion product line, offering catalytic monopropellant and dual-mode bipropellant thrusters built around High-Test Peroxide for satellites from 3U CubeSats through ESPA-class spacecraft.
Description
Halcyon is Benchmark Space Systems' flight-proven, high-thrust, non-toxic chemical propulsion product line, first flown in June 2021. Based on mission-proven catalytic combustion of High-Test Peroxide, Halcyon is offered in two configurations: a catalytic monopropellant version and 'Halcyon Avant,' a dual-mode bipropellant version that first flew in September 2022. The product line spans a range of thruster sizes, propellant tank sizes, and system architectures, combining intelligent control electronics with a modular architecture built from readily available materials. Halcyon systems are configurable for total impulse ranging from 1,000 to 500,000+ N·s and can be built with 1, 4, 5, 8, or custom thruster quantities, targeting missions from orbit insertion and collision avoidance to orbit transfer, station-keeping, precision pointing, momentum management, rendezvous/proximity operations and servicing, and controlled deorbit. The system has flown on multiple commercial and government satellites, including missions launched on SpaceX Transporter rideshare flights and installations on Spaceflight's Sherpa orbital transfer vehicle, and was selected by The Exploration Company to power its 'Mission Possible' demonstrator flight.
Specifications
| Thrust (Monopropellant HTP) | 250 mN, 1 N, 5 N, 10 N |
|---|---|
| Thrust (Dual-Mode Bipropellant) | 2 N, 10 N, 22 N |
| Specific impulse (Monopropellant) | 150-170 s |
| Specific impulse (Bipropellant) | 290-310 s |
| Propellant | High-Test Peroxide monopropellant; HTP + fuel injection bipropellant |
| Total impulse (system range) | 1,000 - 500,000+ N·s |
| Thruster quantity configurations | 1, 4, 5, 8, or custom |
| System temperature range (survivable) | -30°C to 60°C |
| Target spacecraft class | 3U CubeSat through ESPA-class satellites |
| Flight heritage | First flight June 2021 (monopropellant); September 2022 (Halcyon Avant bipropellant); flown on multiple SpaceX Transporter rideshare missions and Spaceflight's Sherpa OTV; selected by The Exploration Company for 'Mission Possible' |