High Energy Logistics Stage

Benchmark proposes the development and qualification of High Energy Logistics Stage (HELS); a scalable, high-energy propulsive kickstage capable of rapidly transferring ESPA-class spacecraft from typical small launch vehicle trajectories to orbits beyond LEO in hours. This configuration can fit within a Firefly Alpha launch vehicle providing 1,991.7 kN·s worth of total impulse which could transfer a 130kg spacecraft through 3,000 m/s of ?V, enough to intercept geosynchronous and higher orbits. Benchmark applies a foundation of previous internal research and development, commercial programs, and government development programs to formulate a system that is adaptable, rapidly configured, and expandable to support a wide range of missions. At the conclusion of this program, HELS can be directly offered to government and commercial customers, only needing to be adapted to the target size payload and launch vehicle.HELS builds upon Benchmark's proven flight heritage in Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) propulsion systems utilizing hydrogen peroxide. Our previous OTV demonstration successfully achieved an orbital raise of 700km with a total impulse of 115 kN·s. While smaller in scale than HELS, this experience provides a number of components and subsystems, invaluable lessons learned, and operational insights that directly inform the development and scaling of the HELS system.Importantly, HELS is based upon High Test Peroxide (HTP) as the primary propellant, paired with a hydrocarbon fuel. This bipropellant combination offers several key advantages:1.           Non-toxic propellants: HTP is widely available, domestically produced, and simple to integrate.2.           Storable propellants: Unlike cryogenic alternatives, HTP and hydrocarbon fuels can be stored at room temperature, significantly reducing infrastructure requirements and enhancing operational flexibility.3.           Rapid integration: The storable nature of these propellants facilitates expedited, low-risk on-site integration for both spacecraft attachment and propellant loading at launch sites.4.           High performance: HTP bipropellant engines deliver comparable specific impulse to heritage hypergolic systems, while hydrogen peroxide’s high density allows 15% more total impulse in a given volumetric constraint.This propellant choice aligns perfectly with the solicitation's emphasis on propellants that are easier to handle, more efficient, and quicker to fuel for reduced ground operations. The use of storable propellants makes HELS particularly well-suited for smaller launch vehicles and tactically responsive launch missions, where minimizing ground support equipment and reducing pre-launch timelines are critical.