Chinese Docking Mechanism

The Chinese Docking Mechanism is a spacecraft docking mechanism based on the Androgynous Peripheral Attach System (APAS).^[1] There have been contradicting reports by the Chinese on its compatibility with APAS.^[2] 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).^[3][4] The androgynous variant has a mass of 310 kg and the non-androgynous variant has a mass of 200 kg.^[5]

Docking device used by China Manned Space Program displayed at National Museum of China

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• Docking and berthing of spacecraft
• International Docking System Standard