Space Docking: How Spacecraft Join in Orbit
Why in the news
Space docking, linking two spacecraft in orbit, was explained as a core skill for modern missions.
Phases
| Phase | What happens |
|---|---|
| Rendezvous | Orbits matched using thruster burns and trajectory corrections |
| Proximity operations | Slow approach guided by GPS, radar, lasers, cameras, pausing at waypoints (400 m, 200 m, 20 m) |
| Capture and latching | Magnets or robotic arms give soft capture; mechanical latches then give hard docking |
Uses
- Building the ISS module by module; crew and cargo transfer.
- Satellite repair and refuelling; lunar gateway, Mars missions, orbital refuelling stations.
Types
- Manual (Soyuz) vs autonomous (SpaceX Dragon, NASA Orion).
- Androgynous: either craft may be active or passive; non-androgynous: fixed roles.
- Redundant systems and multiple sensors reduce collision risk.
Exam angle
- Sequence of phases; example station: ISS.