From BEN to Beyond: Brad Cheetham and Advanced Space Launch Toward Mars

When Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral this month, it marked a new chapter in how Colorado entrepreneurs are shaping the future of exploration.

Among the leaders behind the historic ESCAPADE mission (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) is Brad Cheetham, CEO and President of Advanced Space, a BEN Signature Program alum and current BEN board member whose company continues to redefine what’s possible in space operations and planetary science.

Based in Westminster, Advanced Space has been on a remarkable trajectory. The company first made headlines in 2022 when it successfully launched CAPSTONE, a small satellite that is currently orbiting the Moon. Now, Advanced Space is taking its expertise even farther: to Mars.

The ESCAPADE mission, a collaboration between NASA and the University of California, Berkeley, sent two small spacecraft to orbit Mars, studying how Mars lost much of its atmosphere over time.

The launch aboard Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket was a defining moment for Advanced Space and the BEN community. For Cheetham, standing at Cape Canaveral was the culmination of years of vision, collaboration, and perseverance, hallmarks of the entrepreneurial journey BEN exists to support.

From Signature Program to the Mars

Brad Cheetham’s connection to BEN runs deep. As a Signature Program alumni, he was part of the community of founders and executives who come together to navigate critical growth points, strengthen leadership, and scale impact. 

Now, as a member of BEN’s board, Cheetham contributes his perspective from one of the most complex and ambitious industries. His success exemplifies how the entrepreneurial principles nurtured through BEN translate beyond industries and even beyond Earth.

Colorado’s Space Ecosystem Is Taking Off

Cheetham’s story also reflects something much bigger happening across the state. Colorado has become a hub for aerospace innovation.

Advanced Space stands tall in this industry, partnering with NASA, collaborating with Rocket Lab and Blue Origin, and continuing to grow as a Colorado-based company with global reach.

It’s no surprise that a BEN leader is part of that momentum. The same entrepreneurial DNA that drives tech, health, and sustainability ventures across the BEN community also powers the next era of space exploration: curiosity, courage, and the ability to solve problems no one has solved before.

The Power of Community and Collaboration

While missions like ESCAPADE capture global headlines, they’re also reminders of what happens when ecosystems work together. Behind every launch are hundreds of partnerships, each playing a role in pushing boundaries. As ESCAPADE continues its journey to Mars, the Advanced Space team will continue working behind the scenes to ensure its trajectory and troubleshoot any roadblocks that arise, a fitting metaphor for the entrepreneurial process itself.

That collaborative spirit mirrors the foundation of BEN’s work: bringing together diverse leaders and industries to share knowledge, challenge assumptions, and accelerate growth.

Big ideas may start with enthusiasm, but it’s the long-term execution, leadership, and community that keep them moving forward.

At BEN, we celebrate stories like this one because they remind us of what’s possible when entrepreneurs are supported through critical stages of growth. Whether you’re building a startup, scaling an organization, or, in Cheetham’s case, quite literally reaching for the stars, success comes from the same core elements: clarity of vision, collaboration, and courage.