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University of Arkansas

SST footprint: 1 project (Solid State Inflation Balloon deorbiter) | TechPort footprint: 2 projects across 2 programs (SST, EPSCoR) under Po-hao Huang | Outcome: flew (ARKSAT-1, ISS deploy April 2023) | Context: Arkansas' first-ever satellite. EPSCoR state.

Last updated: 2026-04-14 (session 19)

The Story

The University of Arkansas used an SST seed grant to develop a novel deorbiting technology — a solid-state inflation balloon — that eventually flew on ARKSAT-1, the first satellite ever built and operated by an Arkansas institution. This is a textbook example of SST building space capability in states with minimal aerospace heritage, enabled by the EPSCoR pipeline.

SST Project

Solid State Inflation Balloon Active Deorbiter (SSIB) 91603

  • Period: 2015-10-01 to 2017-10-17
  • TRL: 3 → 5 (target 5)
  • Lead org: University of Arkansas (Fayetteville)
  • PI: Po-hao A Huang
  • TX: TX09.1.3 Passive Reentry Systems for SmallSats
  • Partner: Ames Research Center
  • Description: A MEMS solid-state gas generator chip with microwells of sodium azide. Integrated heaters decompose the sodium azide into nitrogen gas to inflate a metalized polyimide balloon. The inflated balloon increases drag (via atmospheric interaction) and solar radiation pressure to deorbit the spacecraft. Total SSGG mass: ~10 grams. Power: ~10 mW.
  • Scalability: Compatible with 1 kg to 180 kg spacecraft (CubeSats to microsats)

Key innovation: The gas generator is entirely solid-state — no pressurized gas, no valves, no moving parts until inflation. Sodium azide decomposition is the same chemistry as automotive airbags, applied to space deorbiting.

Downstream: ARKSAT-1 (Flight)

Mission Details

  • Spacecraft: 1U CubeSat
  • Manifest: ELaNa 50 (NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative)
  • Launch: SpaceX CRS-27, March 14, 2023 (Falcon 9 to ISS)
  • ISS deploy: April 2023
  • Lead: University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
  • First satellite built and launched by a team from the state of Arkansas

Payloads

  1. SSIB deorbit balloon — the SST-funded technology. Inflatable balloon to demonstrate controlled deorbiting within the 25-year orbital debris guideline.
  2. High-power LED — ~12,000 lumens, for the ASTROSS formation-flight spectroscopy concept (technology precursor)

SmallSat 2023 Paper

"ARKSAT: The First Operational Demonstrator of Novel Ground Tracking and Deorbiting Technology Towards Active Spectroscopic for Small Satellite System" — presented at SmallSat Conference 2023.

Confidence: confirmed (NASA ELaNa 50 manifest, SpaceX CRS-27 manifest, U Arkansas press releases, SmallSat 2023 proceedings, Gunter's Space Page)

Follow-On: ARKSAT Series

ARKSAT-2 157246 (EPSCoR)

  • Period: 2017-10-01 to 2020-09-30
  • Program: EPSCoR (NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
  • Lead org: University of Arkansas at Little Rock
  • PI: Mitchell K Hudson (U Arkansas Little Rock)
  • Co-I: Po-hao A Huang (SST SSIB PI)
  • Description: 2U CubeSat propulsion technology demonstrator. Electrospray propulsion for formation flight. Part of the DAS-Cubes (Diurnal Atmospheric Surveyor CubeSats) concept — paired emitter/chaser CubeSats for active spectroscopy of extraterrestrial atmospheres.
  • Planned launch: 2024

ARKSAT-3E / DAS-Cubes (Planned)

The ultimate vision: paired CubeSats performing active spectroscopy of planetary atmospheres. ARKSAT-1 tested deorbiting, ARKSAT-2 tests propulsion, ARKSAT-3E would demonstrate the full formation-flight spectroscopy concept. Target: ~2026 timeframe.

SST → EPSCoR Pipeline

SST funded the core deorbit technology [91603]. EPSCoR funded the follow-on formation-flight platform [157246]. The SST→EPSCoR pipeline is a different pathway than the more common SST→FO pipeline — it reflects the geographic capacity-building mission of both programs. Arkansas is an EPSCoR state with limited aerospace industry, and both SST and EPSCoR serve the goal of building research capacity in underrepresented states.

People & Connections

  • Po-hao A Huang — PI on SST [91603], Co-I on EPSCoR [157246]. University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. MEMS/microfabrication expertise.
  • Mitchell K Hudson — PI on EPSCoR ARKSAT-2 [157246]. University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Note the inter-campus collaboration (Fayetteville → Little Rock).
  • Sharon E Kaufman — Co-I on EPSCoR [157246].
  • ARC — Partner on SST [91603]. ARC provided integration and testing support, consistent with ARC's role as SST program home.

Technology Context: CubeSat Deorbiting

The SSIB addresses a growing regulatory concern: orbital debris. The FCC's 2022 rule requiring satellite deorbit within 5 years (down from 25 years) makes compact, low-power deorbit devices increasingly valuable. The SSIB's advantages: - Extremely low mass (~10 g for the gas generator) - Very low power (~10 mW) - No pressurized gas storage - Scalable from CubeSats to microsats - Built-in redundancy (multiple microwells)

However, no commercial adoption of the SSIB technology has been identified. The deorbiting market is being addressed by several competing approaches (drag sails, tethers, propulsive deorbit) from commercial providers.

Cross-References

Assessment

ARKSAT-1 is significant less for its technology (SSIB deorbiting is one of many approaches) and more for what it represents:

  1. State-level capacity building: Arkansas had zero satellite heritage before ARKSAT-1. SST provided the seed that, combined with EPSCoR follow-on, built a multi-mission CubeSat program at a non-traditional aerospace university.

  2. SST → CubeSat Launch Initiative pathway: SST funded the technology (TRL 3→5), NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (ELaNa) provided the ride. This is a well-functioning pipeline for university missions.

  3. Vision beyond deorbiting: The SSIB was always part of a larger concept (ASTROSS/DAS-Cubes active spectroscopy). SST funded the enabling technology; the scientific application is the long-term goal.

  4. Contrast with Montana State: Both are non-traditional aerospace states where SST built space capability. Montana State produced a company spinout (Resilient Computing) and lunar surface operation. U Arkansas produced a state-first satellite but no commercial pathway. The difference may be the FO pipeline: LaMeres had 4 FO projects; Huang had none. FO provides the repeated flight validation that de-risks technology enough for commercialization.