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Chinese Docking Mechanism

Summary

The Chinese Docking Mechanism is a spacecraft docking mechanism based on the Androgynous Peripheral Attach System (APAS).[1] There have been contradicting reports by the Chinese on its compatibility with APAS.[2] It is used by Shenzhou spacecraft, beginning with an uncrewed Shenzhou 8, to dock to Tiangong-1. Subsequent crewed missions docked with the Tiangong-1, Tiangong-2 and the Tiangong space station. Similar docking mechanism was also introduced to the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft. Tianzhou 1 was the first cargo spacecraft which docked with the Tiangong-2. It has a circular transfer passage that has a diameter of 800 mm (31 in).[3][4] The androgynous variant has a mass of 310 kg and the non-androgynous variant has a mass of 200 kg.[5]

Docking device used by China Manned Space Program displayed at National Museum of China.
Docking device used by China Manned Space Program displayed at National Museum of China

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ John Cook; Valery Aksamentov; Thomas Hoffman; Wes Bruner (1 Jan 2011). "ISS Interface Mechanisms and their Heritage" (PDF). Houston, Texas: Boeing. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  2. ^ "China's First Space Station Module Readies for Liftoff". Space News. 1 August 2012. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Differences between Shenzhou-8 and Shenzhou-7". CCTV. 31 October 2011. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2015. there will be an 800-millimetre cylindrical passage connecting Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1.
  4. ^ Clark, Stephen (18 June 2012). "Chinese astronauts open door on orbiting research lab". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 17 March 2015. Jing floated through the narrow 31-inch passage leading into Tiangong 1
  5. ^ Qiu Huayon; Liu Zhi; Shi Junwei; Zheng Yunqing (August 2015). "Birth of the Chinese Docking System". Go Taikonauts!. No. 16. p. 12.