Arkansas CubeSat Agile Propulsion Technology Demonstrator Mission (ARKSAT-2)

ARKSAT-2 is a 2U CubeSat propulsion technology demonstrator and a developmental subset of an innovative free-space spectrometer system using paired CubeSats in formation flight. The paired system is called the Diurnal Atmospheric Surveyor CubeSats (DAS-Cubes), where a light emitting DAS-E (Emitter; “das-ee”) is followed by a chasing DAS-C (Chaser; “dask”). The DAS-Cubes concept will enable exploring new space science missions such as compositions and dynamics of extraterrestrial atmospheres, asteroid dusts, comet trails, plumes and ejecta. An agile, low-cost, non-toxic, biocompatible, and non-pressurized micro-propulsion system (CubeSat Agile Propulsion System, CSAPS) for DAS-C is currently being developed at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (UAF). The in-space demonstration and validation of this propulsion system forms the primary objective of ARKSAT-2. The secondary objective of the ARKSAT-2 will be on raising the TRL from 5 to 7 for the Solid State Inflation Balloon (SSIB) deorbit technology subsystem currently funded as part of STMD’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program. The SSIB is a low cost, simple, and scalable deorbit technology designed for the entire range of small spacecraft (from 1U CubeSats to 180kg Microsats).

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.