Chinese Docking Mechanism

The Chinese Docking Mechanism is a spacecraft docking mechanism based on the Androgynous Peripheral Attach System (APAS). There have been contradicting reports by the Chinese on its compatibility with APAS. 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). The androgynous variant has a mass of 310 kg and the non-androgynous variant has a mass of 200 kg.

See also

• Docking and berthing of spacecraft
• International Docking System Standard

References

1. Docking and berthing of spacecraft
2. Apollo Docking Mechanism
3. NASA Docking System
4. Tiangong space station
5. Gemini Docking Mechanism
6. Androgynous Peripheral Attach System
7. International Docking System Standard
8. Gender of connectors and fasteners
9. Dry dock
10. Soyuz Kontakt
11. Chinese space program
12. China Manned Space Program
13. Tiangong-3
14. Shenzhou (spacecraft)
15. International Space Station
16. Prichal (ISS module)
17. Lanyue
18. Chandrayaan-4
19. Bongkrek acid
20. List of Latin phrases (full)