Docking: An exciting and accurate science story of meeting spaceships; it is not just a miracle of technology but also a risk..

When a spacecraft docks with the International Space Station (ISS) floating in space, it is not just a miracle of technology, but an extremely sensitive and scientifically controlled process. This is called docking.

It requires millimeter precision, high-tech sensors, and vigilance of astronauts. Be it Russia's Soyuz, America's SpaceX Dragon, or China's Shenzhou. Every spacecraft has to follow precise choreography to connect with the space station. Space docking experts say that even a small mistake in docking can turn into a major accident, so it is considered the most challenging phase of a space mission. Yet every successful docking paves the way for future human space travel. According to former NASA Flight Director Dr. Mike Lorraine, this amazing process of docking is completed in 6 stages.

Preparation for docking: From Earth to orbit
The docking process begins when the spacecraft is launched from Earth and reaches the orbit of the International Space Station. The station revolves around the Earth at a speed of 28,000 km per hour at an altitude of about 400 km. The spacecraft first has to stabilize in this orbit and then match the speed and position with the station.

Proximity operations: Reaching a distance of a few meters
When the spacecraft comes within 250 meters of the station, proximity operations begin. Cameras, laser sensors, and radars mounted on the spacecraft begin scanning the station and target the docking port. Both spacecraft are equipped with accurate navigation systems like GPS, which accurately analyze the position, speed, and angles between the two.

Slow and precise rendezvous
In this phase, the distance between the spacecraft and the station is gradually reduced. This process is completely computer-controlled, in which the spacecraft has to increase or decrease its speed several times so that it can match the speed and direction of the station. In this, several orbital burns are done, i.e. the orbit is changed by burning the engine for a controlled time.

Final approach and docking, i.e. millimeter accuracy

In this phase, the vehicle is brought right in front of the docking port and slowly moved forward. The speed is usually 0.1 meter per second or even less. When the vehicle touches the port, the soft capture mechanism installed in it captures the station's port. After this, the hard capture rings are activated and both the vehicles get locked mechanically.

Airtight seal and internal checking

The most important task after docking is to check the airtight seal so that there is no air leakage. For this, several sensors measure the pressure. After a successful test, the hatch between the two vehicles is opened and the astronauts enter the station.

Risk is also not less
In 1971, the Soviet Union's mission Soyuz-10 tried to dock with the space station Salyut-1 for the first time, but the locking mechanism of the spacecraft did not work and the astronauts had to return leaving the mission incomplete. The second mission of the same year, Soyuz-11, which was the first time a manned mission successfully connected with Salyut-1, during the return the air pressure in the spacecraft fell and all three astronauts died.

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