International Docking Adapter: Difference between revisions

The '''International Docking Adapter''' ('''IDA''') is a [[Docking and berthing of spacecraft|spacecraft docking system adapter]] developed to convert [[Androgynous Peripheral Attach System#APAS-95|APAS-95]] to support docking with spacecraft that implement the [[International Docking System Standard]]. The IDA uses [[NASA Docking System]] (NDS) hardware. An IDA was permanently installed on each of the [[International Space Station]]'s (ISS) two open [[Pressurized Mating Adapters]] (PMAs), both of which are connected to the [[Harmony (ISS module)|''Harmony'' module]].

Prior to IDA several different docking adapters were designed to fill a similar role but were never implemented.

The APAS to LIDS Adaptor System (ATLAS) was announced in 2008.<ref name=flightglobal>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/nasa-develops-new-docking-system-for-constellation-220598/|title=NASA develops new docking system for Constellation|last=Coppinger|first=Rob|date=4 Jan 2008|publisher=Flightglobal|access-date=19 January 2015|location=London}}</ref> It would have been placed on the open PMAs and converted APAS-95 to the [[Low Impact Docking System]] (LIDS).<ref name=flightglobal/> ATLAS was planned to be launched on [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion's]] first two missions to the International Space Station.<ref name=flightglobal/> Orion's missions to the ISS were later canceled altogether and its role as a crew transporter was replaced by the [[Commercial Crew Program]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/40957orion-no-backup-for-commercial-crew-says-bolden/|title=Orion No Backup for Commercial Crew, Says Bolden|last=Klotz|first=Irene|date=18 June 2014|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>

The Common Docking Adapter (CDA) was announced in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=32552|title=Recovery Act: United States On-orbit Segment Phase II Development of International Space Station Common Docking Adapter|date=7 Oct 2009|publisher=SpaceRef|access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref> It was planned to be used to convert the [[Common Berthing Mechanism]] to the NASA Docking System.<ref name=CDA>{{cite web|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110005478.pdf|title=NASA Docking System (NDS) Technical Integration Meeting|last=Hatfield|first=Skip|date=17 Nov 2010|publisher=NASA|access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref> The CDAs would have been attached directly to Node-2 forward and Node-2 zenith.<ref name=CDA/> They would have been delivered on the Japanese [[H-II Transfer Vehicle|HTV cargo spacecraft]].<ref name=CDA/>

IDA converts APAS-95 to the NASA Docking System (which complies with the [[International Docking System Standard]]) and allows the transfer of crew, cargo, power and data.<ref name=Siceloff>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/docking-adapter-sets-stage-for-commercial-crew-craft|title=Docking Adapter Sets Stage for Commercial Crew Craft|last=Siceloff|first=Steven|date=27 June 2015|publisher=NASA|access-date=28 June 2015|location=Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA}}</ref> IDA has a mass of {{convert|526|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|42|in|cm|order=flip|abbr=on}} and a width of {{convert|63|in|cm|order=flip|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Siceloff/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/spacex_crs7_mission_overview.pdf|title=SpaceX CRS-7 Mission Overview|date=June 2015|publisher=NASA|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref> When including the docking targets, laser retro-reflectors and related systems that are arrayed around the outer perimeters, the outer diameter is about {{convert|94|in|cm|order=flip|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Siceloff/>

[[Boeing]] is the primary contractor for the IDAs and the adapters were assembled at their [[Houston]] Product Support Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6GmuRY5bHA&t=43m44s|title=SpaceX Pre-Launch Briefing from NASA's Kennedy Space Center|date=27 June 2015|publisher=NASA|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=NASAABC>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2qtIfuoyig|title= Space Station Live: The ABCs of IDA (video)|date=20 Feb 2015|publisher=NASA|access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref> Parts from subcontractors came from 25 American states and the primary structure is from Russian company [[RSC Energia]].<ref name=Siceloff/><ref name=NASAABC/>

Each IDA was delivered as unpressurized cargo in the trunk of a [[SpaceX Dragon 1]]. When each IDA arrived, [[Dextre]] removed it from Dragon's trunk and moved it to about {{convert|1|ft|cm|order=flip|abbr=on}} from the front of the PMA. It then moved the IDA carefully into position until it was seated on the PMA and held it there.<ref name=NASAABC/> Astronauts during an [[Extravehicular activity]] then completed the electrical connections and permanently connect it to the PMA.<ref name=NASAABC/>

IDA-1 was planned to be attached to Node-2's forward PMA.<ref name=Hartman/> IDA-2 was originally planned to be attached to Node-2's zenith PMA.<ref name=Hartman/><ref name=launchdate/> But following the loss of IDA-1, IDA-2 was instead attached to Node-2's forward PMA (PMA-2).<ref name=NASA-2015-11-04>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/5-Status_of_ISS.pdf|title=HSF Transition from ISS to cis-lunar space and ISS Status|last=Scimemi|first=Sam|date=November 4, 2015|publisher=NASA|access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="IDA-2 attached">{{cite news|last1=Harwood|first1=William|title=Spacewalkers attach docking adapter to space station for commercial vehicles|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/08/19/spacewalkers-attach-new-port-to-space-station-for-commercial-spacecraft/|access-date=20 August 2016|agency=Spaceflight|date=19 August 2016}}</ref> IDA-3, a replacement for IDA-1, is installed at Node-2's zenith PMA (PMA-3).<ref name=NASA-2015-11-04/>

IDA-1 was lost during the launch failure of [[SpaceX CRS-7]] on 28 June 2015.<ref name=Hartman>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/672214main_1-Hartman_July12_NAC_Final_508.pdf|title=International Space Station Program Status|last=Hartman|first=Dan|date=23 July 2012|publisher=NASA|access-date=10 August 2012}}</ref><ref name=launchdate>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/ISS-USOS-Program-Status-NAC-Public-July-2014.pdf|title=Status of the ISS USOS|last=Hartman|first=Daniel|date=July 2014|publisher=NASA Advisory Council HEOMD Committee|access-date=26 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=IDA1lsot>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/docking-adapter-satellites-student-experiments-lost-in-dragon-failure/|title=Docking Adapter, Satellites, Student Experiments Lost In Dragon Failure|last=Foust|first=Jeff|date=28 June 2015|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=29 June 2015}}</ref>

IDA-2 was launched on [[SpaceX CRS-9]] on 18 July 2016.<ref name=SpaceflightInsider-2016-07-18>{{cite news |url= http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/spacex-launches-seventh-mission-2016-nasas-crs-9/ |title= SpaceX Conducts Second Ground Landing After Launch Of CRS-9 Dragon To ISS |author= Jason Rhian |date= 18 July 2016 |publisher= Spaceflight Insider }}</ref> It was attached and connected to PMA-2 during a spacewalk on 19 August 2016.<ref name="IDA-2 attached" /> First docking was achieved with the arrival of [[Crew Dragon Demo-1]] on 3 March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://spacenews.com/crew-dragon-docks-with-iss/ |title=Crew Dragon docks with ISS |author=Jeff Foust |date=3 March 2019 |website=[[SpaceNews]] |language=en-US |access-date=6 June 2019}}</ref>

IDA-3 was launched on the [[SpaceX CRS-18]] mission in July 2019.<ref name=pietrobon>{{cite web |title=United States Commercial ELV Launch Manifest |url=http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/uscom-man.txt |first=Steven |last=Pietrobon |date=August 20, 2018 |access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> IDA-3 is constructed mostly from spare parts to speed construction.<ref name=sfn-20160501>{{cite news |url= https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/01/boeing-borrows-from-inventory-to-speed-docking-adapter-delivery/ |title= Boeing borrows from inventory to speed docking adapter delivery |author= Stephen Clark |date= 1 May 2016 |publisher= Spaceflight Now }}</ref> It was attached and connected to PMA-3 during a spacewalk on 21 August 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2019/08/21/spacewalkers-complete-installation-of-second-commercial-docking-port/|title=Spacewalkers Complete Installation of Second Commercial Docking Port – Space Station|website=blogs.nasa.gov|access-date=21 August 2019|archive-date=2 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602183325/https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2019/08/21/spacewalkers-complete-installation-of-second-commercial-docking-port/|url-status=dead}}</ref> First docking was achieved with the arrival of [[SpaceX CRS-21]] on 7 December 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spaceexplored.com/2020/12/07/two-spacex-spacecrafts-docked-to-international-space-station-as-dragon-2-joins-crew-dragon/ |title=Two SpaceX spacecrafts docked to International Space Station as Dragon 2 joins Crew Dragon |author=Seth Kurkowski |date=7 December 2020 |website=SpaceExplored.com |language=en-US |access-date=27 January 2021}}</ref>

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File:IDA attached to PMA.png|Rendering of IDA connected to the PMA-2

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