Docking and berthing of spacecraft

Free-flying Progress spacecraft in process of docking to the International Space Station

SpaceX Dragon spacecraft attached to the Canadarm2 in preparation for berthing to the ISS

Docking and berthing of spacecraft is the joining of two space vehicles. This connection can be temporary, or partially permanent such as for space station modules.

Docking specifically refers to joining of two separate free-flying space vehicles.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] Berthing refers to mating operations where a passive module/vehicle is placed into the mating interface of another space vehicle by using a robotic arm.^[1]^[3]^[4] Because the modern process of un-berthing requires more crew labor and is time-consuming, berthing operations are unsuited for rapid crew evacuations in the event of an emergency.^[5]

^ ^a ^b John Cook; Valery Aksamentov; Thomas Hoffman; Wes Bruner (January 1, 2011). "ISS Interface Mechanisms and their Heritage" (PDF). Houston, Texas: Boeing. Retrieved March 31, 2015. Docking is when one incoming spacecraft rendezvous with another spacecraft and flies a controlled collision trajectory in such a manner so as to align and mesh the interface mechanisms. The spacecraft docking mechanisms typically enter what is called soft capture, followed by a load attenuation phase, and then the hard docked position which establishes an air-tight structural connection between spacecraft. Berthing, by contrast, is when an incoming spacecraft is grappled by a robotic arm and its interface mechanism is placed in close proximity of the stationary interface mechanism. Then typically there is a capture process, coarse alignment and fine alignment and then structural attachment.
^ "International Docking Standardization" (PDF). NASA. March 17, 2009. p. 15. Retrieved March 4, 2011. Docking: The joining or coming together of two separate free flying space vehicles
^ ^a ^b Fehse, Wigbert (2003). Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521824927.
^ ^a ^b "Advanced Docking/Berthing System – NASA Seal Workshop" (PDF). NASA. November 4, 2004. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 22, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011. Berthing refers to mating operations where an inactive module/vehicle is placed into the mating interface using a Remote Manipulator System-RMS. Docking refers to mating operations where an active vehicle flies into the mating interface under its own power.
^ Pete Harding (February 25, 2015). "EVA-30 concludes latest ISS commercial crew preparations". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.

[her-1] John Cook; Valery Aksamentov; Thomas Hoffman; Wes Bruner (January 1, 2011). "ISS Interface Mechanisms and their Heritage" (PDF). Houston, Texas: Boeing. Retrieved March 31, 2015. Docking is when one incoming spacecraft rendezvous with another spacecraft and flies a controlled collision trajectory in such a manner so as to align and mesh the interface mechanisms. The spacecraft docking mechanisms typically enter what is called soft capture, followed by a load attenuation phase, and then the hard docked position which establishes an air-tight structural connection between spacecraft. Berthing, by contrast, is when an incoming spacecraft is grappled by a robotic arm and its interface mechanism is placed in close proximity of the stationary interface mechanism. Then typically there is a capture process, coarse alignment and fine alignment and then structural attachment.

[nasa20090317-2] "International Docking Standardization" (PDF). NASA. March 17, 2009. p. 15. Retrieved March 4, 2011. Docking: The joining or coming together of two separate free flying space vehicles

[ARDS-3] Fehse, Wigbert (2003). Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521824927.

[AdvanDock-4] "Advanced Docking/Berthing System – NASA Seal Workshop" (PDF). NASA. November 4, 2004. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 22, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011. Berthing refers to mating operations where an inactive module/vehicle is placed into the mating interface using a Remote Manipulator System-RMS. Docking refers to mating operations where an active vehicle flies into the mating interface under its own power.

[5] Pete Harding (February 25, 2015). "EVA-30 concludes latest ISS commercial crew preparations". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]