Brief report proposes use of flexible tunnel to provide "soft docking" between Space Shuttle Orbiter and space station during resupply visits. Soft docking reduces risks of structural damage to either spacecraft during docking maneuvers, provides adaptable docking interface, and avoids jarring sensitive material-processing experiments in space station. After docking, tunnel pressurized to enable exchange of people and cargo between two spacecraft.
Flexible Docking Tunnel
NASA Tech Briefs ; 12 , 2
1988-02-01
Miscellaneous
No indication
English
Smart tunnel: Docking mechanism
NTRS | 1989
|Multi-stage capture docking mechanism and docking method for flexible structure
European Patent Office | 2024
|