USIS PRESSURIZED VARIANT


The Hempsell Docking Ring (HDR) concept is critical for the exploitation of outer space. However, the connection becomes very limited if humans and cargo cannot pass through the rings in a pressurized environment.

Enter Mark Hempsell, BSc, MSc, PhD, Badass, once again.

Dr. Hempsell's rather clever pressurized design is a marriage between the QinetiQ Space nv and the Reaction Engines, Ltd. designs, all ramped up to The Standard (see Image 1).
Image 1: The Pressurized Hempsell Docking Ring
The pressurized version of the HDR is composed of an unpressurized HDR along with a pressure bulkhead and hatch. The USIS specifications state that the pressurized passageway through the pressurized connection must be wide enough to allow for astronauts in EVA suits and International Standard Payload Racks (ISPR) to pass through (see Image 2).

Image 2: The two different USIS hatchways
 Dr. Hempsell ensures a USIS compliant hatch. The specifications for the pressurized HDR are listed below (Table 1).

HATCH LENGTH

1.400

m

HATCH WIDTH

1.000

m

HATCH THICKNESS

0.046

m

HATCH AND BULKHEAD MASS

32

kg

PRESSURIZED HDR MASS

80

kg

Table 1: Hempsell Docking Ring Hatch specifications

Dr. Hempsell has a few examples of the HDR in action on his website. One image displays two pressurized HDRs with the hatch open (see Image 3), and another image with a space capsule with a pressurized HDR located on the spacecraft's nose (see Image 4).
Image 4: Space Capsule with a USIS Docking and Hatch Mechanism Docking with PAI
The Hempsell Pressurized HDR will allow for easy connectivity and access between spacecraft.

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