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Exploration Docking Hatch (EDH)

Completed TRL 7 (started at 5, targeting 7)

Description

The Exploration Docking Hatch Project was forged as a partnership between the Advanced Exploration Systems Program, the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program, and JSC Engineering to develop a forward extensible docking hatch applicable to near term uses and longer term exploration needs at a shared cost.

A deep space compatible docking hatch is necessary for missions beyond LEO (low Earth orbit). This project takes steps toward development of a standard, weight-optimized docking hatch system compatible with the international docking standard and available for use by government and commercial partners on the road to exploration. This eliminates redundant development costs among partners and allows partners to focus on their core technologies.

Benefits

The Exploration Docking Hatch's elegant design provides a reduced production cost, lighter weight, and increased capability over legacy hatches. Additionally the development of a common core, open source, highly capable, light-weight hatch design allows a starting point for use specific applications thereby reducing or eliminating DDT&E costs for NASA partners across architectures allowing for overall more efficient development programs.

Details

Technology areaMaterials, Structures, Mechanical Systems, and Manufacturing > Mechanical Systems > Deployables, Docking, and Interfaces
ProgramMars Campaign Office (MCO)
Lead organizationJohnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Start date2014-10-01
End date2017-04-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

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.

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.