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]
there will be an 800-millimetre cylindrical passage connecting Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1.
Jing floated through the narrow 31-inch passage leading into Tiangong 1
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