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Redesign of EVA Quick Disconnects for Exploration ATCS (QDs)
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Description
Design new operator and fluid interface mechanisms to ensure user-friendly and dust-tolerant QDs for Artemis and beyond, increasing stakeholder confidence in critical hardware. (TRL-5 at completion o Year 2)
Benefits
New design will address the following SoA ISS ATCS EVA QD design and operational limitations: sliding seals susceptible to dust wear with no particulate purging mechanism, high-risk operational scenarios such as handle kick-back and hydraulic locking due to trapped fluid between redundant seal that require large forces, lengthy procedures, spare tools, and complex training for crew to reliably mate/de-mate. In addition, new QD design will provide new manufacturing capability and address limited spares.
Details
| Technology area | Thermal Management Systems > Thermal Control Components and Systems > Heat Transport |
| Program | Agency Independent Research and Development (A-IRAD) |
| Lead organization | Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX |
| Start date | 2025-11-01 |
| End date | 2026-09-30 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
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.
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