Design of a Self Don/Doffing Rear Entry Planetary Suit to Interface with a Suit Port/Lock

Under Phase 1 of subject SBIR, Air-Lock, Incorporated will design a self donning and doffing Rear Entry Hard Upper Torso (REHUT) that interfaces with a suit port. This design will allow suited, pressurized crewmembers to mate/demate their suits to/from suit ports located on lunar or planetary habitats, rovers, etc. This is a significant activity because it minimizes concerns over dust entering the habitat during crewmember entry/exit and it maximizes the habitat's working volume by eliminating the need for airlocks. For the purpose of this SBIR, the baseline architecture being will focus on NASA JSC's MK-III advanced spacesuit and the suit port being utilized by the Lunar Electirc Rover (LER).

With the proposed commercial development of space stations, any invention that maximizes consumables will have added value. The design of a spacesuit that can be donned/doffed without the need for a large airlock will have added value to commercial habitats.

The prototype self don/doff rear entry HUT resulting from the execution of Phase II will exhibit commercial appeal within NASA for advanced suit prototype (MK-III in particular) and future lunar/planetary suits. Potential NASA JSC customers include NASA EC and CSSS ESPO.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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