Orbital arc
Move in space.
World's first Gas-Phase Field Effect Electric Propulsion (Gas FEEP) system currently in development. Gas FEEP is a better way to move in space: Ultra low mass, affordable fuel, better performance, and available at scales of thousands of units annually immediately upon product launch.
Electric propulsion with unmatched performance at unmatched scalability.
Our thruster and PPU combined are expected to weigh less than 600 grams for a 2 kW system; that's 3,250 W/kg. This power density saves launch costs, reduces fuel needs, and increases payload in the mass budget, so spacecraft can fly further, maneuver faster, carry more, and last longer in space.
Increasing ISP usually hurts thrust per watt, consuming power to buy efficiency instead of agility. But, combining the incredible power efficiency of FEEP with the high ion mass and low ionization energy of naphthalene, we expect to offer 2,650 sec. of ISP at 68 mN/kW - the best of both worlds.
FEEP makes ions differently, allowing us to substitute molecular fuels for traditional noble gases like krypton and xenon. Our fuel, naphthalene, is also the main ingredient in mothballs - a heavy molecule that stores solid (no pressure vessel fuel tank), is safe and easy to handle, sublimates at room temp, and offers better performance than xenon at 1/2000th the cost.
Because our thruster runs mostly on a MEMS chip, our production can leverage existing chip fab infrastructure. This means we can easily scale to hundreds or thousands of thrusters per year. When our product is complete, we will keep inventory in stock for next-day delivery on small orders, instead of the typical 6-9 month lead time.
| Thruster Mass | 60 grams |
|---|---|
| PPU Mass | 500 grams |
| Input Power Range | 40 W to 2000 W |
| Thrust Range | 2 mN to 130 mN |
| ISP Range | 2650 s to 4000 s |
| Fuel | Naphthalene (stored solid, sublimated for gas-phase operation, up to 100 kg included free with purchase) |
| Total Impulse | >1 MNs |
| Thruster Dimensions | 12 mm deep x 36 mm diameter |
| PPU Dimensions | 100 mm x 60 mm x 35 mm |
| Optional Radiator Dimensions | 100 mm x 100 mm x 3 mm |
| Availability | Once production begins, 2400 units in year 1, scaling with demand from there. Orders up to 100 units can be shipped immediately by overnight mail. |
All specifications listed here are based on modelled performance, and achieving these goals depends on successful completion of our development program. The current state of the technology is TRL 3, with sub-scale physics demonstration hardware produced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and performing within expectations set by the same modelling.
Leadership and advisors behind Orbital Arc and RIOT Drive.
Jonathan Huffman
Chief Executive Officer
Founder, Inventor, US National Lab PI, MBA, got the idea from a videogame.
Forest Ralph
CFO and Chief Strategy Officer
Harvard MBA, CPA, 25+ years leading strategic finance across many industries. Wishes he was on his boat in the Bahamas.
Jorge Berger
Power Systems Engineer
Leading the development of thruster power electronics and producing better specs than NASA as an unpaid undergraduate intern.
Natalya Bailey
Scientific Advisor
MIT PhD in Aero/Astro Engineering, Founder of Accion Systems (exited), expert in microspray FEEP propulsion.
Anthony Flannery
MEMS Advisor
Stanford PhD in Electrical Engineering, Founder of Invensense (world's first 2-axis MEMS gyroscope), expert in MEMS process development.
Susan Acker-Walsh
Business Advisor
Co-Founder and CEO, CREO Inc (Acquired). 29 years of executive leadership experience guiding the growth of highly complex science-based organizations from early phase to unicorn status.
Mike Townley
Business Advisor
Co-Founder and President, CREO Inc (Acquired). Over 30 years leading the implementation of processes, information systems, and information security in highly regulated industries and environments.
Latest from Orbital Arc Weekly on Substack. Newest posts show first; scroll the list below for the full archive.
Wherein we discover (exhaustively) that it is not a good idea.
In which we hit TRL 3, and I thoroughly demonstrate I am a noob at scientific testing.
Or, kicking the pants off of Hall thrusters.
Or, some math I should have done a long, long time ago.
In which we have some good news to announce!
Delta-v determines where we can go and what we can do in space, and has a lot of delightful complexity—prime tech post fodder!
Getting closer to full process readiness.
What I scan the news for and evaluate as potential competitive technology.
In which Jonathan gathers permission slips to use the tools of nanotech.
A hot take from an amateur cosmologist.
Magnetron sputtering, hardware progress, and a two-in-one update.
And progress on hardware is finally starting again!
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