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.
More »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.
More »Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
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Lead Organization | NASA Center | Houston, Texas |
Co-Funding Partners | Type | Location |
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Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) | NASA Mission Directorate | |
Lockheed Martin Space Systems (LMSS) | Industry | Sunnyvale, California |