Orbital Docking Simulator & Flight Telemetry Lab
Test real-time 6-DOF reaction control thruster (RCS) maneuvers for commercial crew orbital rendezvous with the International Space Station’s Harmony Zenith/Forward docking port (IDA-2).
Total Delta-V Expended
1.84 m/s
RCS Pulses Fired
34
Time On Approach
01:42
Docking Quality Score
98.2 / 100
Commercial Crew Rendezvous Architecture
Spacecraft rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) with the International Space Station require adherence to strict 10-degree approach corridors. The International Docking System Standard (IDSS) utilizes a Low-Impact Docking System (LIDS) with peripheral capture latches.
As Starliner and Crew Dragon approach the IDA-2 / IDA-3 docking rings atop PMA-2 and PMA-3, autonomous relative GPS and LIDAR sensors feed real-time guidance vectors to fire hypergolic hydrazine/MON-3 reaction control thrusters.
NASA Flight Rule Docking Constraints
| Parameter | Permitted Tolerance | Optimal Envelope |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Velocity (Closure) | 0.05 to 0.15 m/s | < 0.10 m/s |
| Lateral Misalignment (X, Y) | < 0.18 m | < 0.08 m |
| Angular Error (Pitch, Yaw, Roll) | < 3.0 degrees | < 1.2 degrees |
| Corridor Half-Cone Angle | 10.0 degrees | < 5.0 degrees |