Engineering:Chinese Docking Mechanism
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Short description: Spacecraft docking mechanism used by China.
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]
See also
References
- ↑ "ISS Interface Mechanisms and their Heritage". Houston, Texas: Boeing. 1 Jan 2011. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110010964.pdf. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ↑ "China's First Space Station Module Readies for Liftoff". Space News. 1 August 2012. http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110801-china-space-station-module-readies.html. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- ↑ "Differences between Shenzhou-8 and Shenzhou-7". CCTV. 31 October 2011. http://english.cntv.cn/special/tiangong1/20111031/114506.shtml. Retrieved 17 March 2015. "there will be an 800-millimetre cylindrical passage connecting Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1."
- ↑ Clark, Stephen (18 June 2012). "Chinese astronauts open door on orbiting research lab". Spaceflight Now. http://spaceflightnow.com/china/shenzhou9/120618docking/. Retrieved 17 March 2015. "Jing floated through the narrow 31-inch passage leading into Tiangong 1"
- ↑ Qiu Huayon; Liu Zhi; Shi Junwei; Zheng Yunqing (August 2015). "Birth of the Chinese Docking System". Go Taikonauts! (16): 12.
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