APAS-89 androgynous docking unit

Space Shuttle Orbital Docking System close-up

APAS in a Shuttle-Mir docking.

The Androgynous Peripheral Attach System, or Androgynous Peripheral Assembly System, is a spacecraft docking mechanism used on the International Space Station. It is used to dock the Space Shuttle orbiter and to connect the Functional Cargo Block (Zarya) to Pressurized Mating Adapter 1. The system has a capture ring that extends outward from the device on the station and captures the identical device on the docking vehicle. The capture ring aligns them, pulls them together and deploys 24 structural hooks, latching the two systems with an airtight seal. Other docking ports on the Russian station modules use the same system for the docking of Russian spacecraft. The Shuttle-Mir program was a collaborative space program involving Russia and the United States. ... Dock can refer to several things: Places for the transfer of people and materials to, from, or between different forms of transport or working with transport: A maritime dock. ... “ISS” redirects here. ... NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... Zarya module as seen from STS-88 (NASA) Zarya (meaning sunrise), also known as the Functional Cargo Block or the FGB (the Russian Acronym), was the first module launched of the International Space Station. ... Unity, already docked to Endeavour via PMA-2, docking with Zarya via PMA-1 (NASA) The International Space Station (ISS) uses three Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMAs) to interconnect spacecraft and modules with different docking mechanisms. ...

The Androgynous Peripheral Attach System was designed by Moscow-based RSC Energia and has roots in the Apollo-Soyuz program. Its current design is based on that of the Androgynous Peripheral Docking System used in the Shuttle-Mir Program. S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energiya (Russian: ), also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components. ... The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was the first joint flight of the U.S. and Soviet space programs. ... The Shuttle-Mir program was a collaborative space program between Russia and the United States, which involved American Space Shuttles visiting the Russian Space Station Mir, Russian cosmonauts flying on the Shuttle and American astronauts staying aboard Mir for long periods of time. ...

The NASA-designed Low Impact Docking System, which is to serve as the main docking system for Project Constellation, is a smaller, lighter, simpler version of APAS-89, and it is not compatible with it. The Low Impact Docking System or (LIDS) is the space vehicle mating system designed by NASA for the next generation of space exploration vehicles included in Project Constellation. ... Project Constellation is NASAs current plan for space exploration. ...

References

• NASA's Human Spaceflight web site (space fact)