Image: ESA's International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM)
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 - 06:50
in Astronomy & Space
A close-up of the engineering model of ESA's International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM) that will mate spacecraft with an airtight seal. Whereas present docking systems are passive and rely on the spacecraft to push against each other to make the connection, ESA's new mechanism is active, allowing the spacecraft to meet more gently before it draws them together.