Multistage Umbilical Disconnect (MUD) System (MUD)

Paragon proposes a novel universal umbilical quick disconnect assembly designed to protect against intrusion of lunar regolith and extreme temperature changes on the surface of the Moon and beyond for extended periods of time. The MUD system protects the umbilical internal flow or electrical path from regolith intrusion and thermal flux by utilizing four protection systems: softgoods cover, exterior active protection via vibration/resonance, exterior mechanical protection and interior coupling protection. The protection systems are dissimilar mechanisms which allows for additional mitigation of regolith intrusion and will be designed to be operated with space suit gloves. The MUD quick disconnect assembly is a practical solution to one of the biggest challenges in lunar exploration: regolith intrusion. As Lunar and Martian missions become more complex, the MUD assembly will play a key role in maintaining reliable infrastructure, supporting long-duration operations, and enabling sustained human and robotic presence on other planetary surfaces. Additionally, vibrational resonance removal for regolith could prove to be a very compelling way to mitigate intrusion in areas other than disconnecting hardware such as solar panel, radiators, habitats, optics, sensors, landing zones, sample collection tools, suits, and rovers. With Phase I funding, Paragon will design, test, and prepare analyses of this new technology using low cost materials and manufacturing methods to validate the design concepts with the objective of moving to Phase II and, ultimately, developing an innovative product within the quick disconnecting hardware market. The primary go-to-market strategy for MUD system focuses on securing partnerships with space agencies such as NASA to integrate the technology into lunar and Mars missions. Simultaneously, the products simple mechanical nature makes it easily adapted for industrial markets where contamination resistance is critical such as oil, gas and defense.

The MUD assembly has relevance to NASA for exploration-class missions within the Artemis program and beyond, which rely on umbilicals, or transfer tubing and cables. Umbilicals are vital for operations on the lunar surface, delivering power, data, and life support consumables between habitats, rovers, and astronauts. Protecting lunar umbilicals, particularly around their connection areas, from these harsh lunar conditions is essential to ensure they perform reliably and support the success and safety of lunar missions. Additionally, quick detachment methods will be helpful for enabling rapid response in emergencies or during operations requiring mobility, allowing astronauts or equipment to disconnect swiftly without risking damage to the umbilicals or delays in critical tasks. The MUD technology will be attached to the umbilical using traditional methods such as crimping or threads. With a growing demand for exploration into extreme environments, there will be a greater need for dust-resistant technologies. The global space economy is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2040, creating a significant market for specialized hardware, especially around critical components such as life support umbilicals. On Earth, industries such as oil & gas or defense face similar contamination challenges that could be mitigated by the proposed system. Such an important, low-cost technology could create immediate demand due to the simplistic resolution to a problem without large cost of integration. A completely dust-proof quick disconnect is crucial in industries where contamination can disrupt system performance and integrity. For example, in hydraulic systems, dust can cause wear and damage to equipment, leading to potential failures. With an ongoing emphasis on operational efficiency and durability, the demand for dust-proof quick disconnects is expected to grow, driving the overall expansion of the quick disconnect couplings market. Should the technology be available, it would revolutionize the coupling industry— quick disconnecting systems would be at a clear detriment to not utilize this new hardware in a questionable, dust prone or hazardous environment.

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.