International Docking Adapter

IDA-2

The International Docking Adapter (IDA) is a coupling adapter for the International Space Station (ISS) . It expands the space station with new coupling nozzles that comply with the International Docking System Standard (IDSS) . One IDA each was mounted on one of the two free PMA coupling points (APAS-95 standard) that are located on the Harmony module.

history

Rendering of the planned Common Docking Adapter

Before the IDSS , there were several different proposals for standardization and for ISS docking adapters, which ultimately did not reach the stage of operational readiness. These include the LIDS ( Low Impact Docking System ) system , which was announced in 2008 and was intended to expand the APAS-95 system for the Orion spacecraft . In 2009 the Common Docking Adapter (CDA) was announced. It was planned as an adapter between the Common Berthing Mechanism and the NASA Docking System .

technical description

IDA at a PMA

The IDA uses the IDSS-compatible NASA docking system on the free side . It is an androgynous coupling system where both sides are identical. One side takes on the active role, while the other acts passively. The coupling socket enables the exchange of crew, cargo, electricity and data. On the side of the space station there is an APAS -95 connection with which the adapter is to be connected to the corresponding counterpart of the Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA).

The adapter has a mass of 526 kg with a height of 1100 mm and a width of 1600 mm. With the externally attached instruments, e.g. B. like the laser sensor, the outer diameter is approx. 2400 mm.

Boeing is the prime contractor for the IDA and the adapters were assembled at the Houston Product Support Center . Parts came from suppliers in 25 US states, the basic structure comes from the Russian company RKK Energija . Initial preparatory work on the ISS was carried out in early 2015. The spaceships Dragon 2 and CST-100 Starliner use these adapters as part of the commercial crew program .

Launch and loss of IDA-1

In February 2015, it was reported that IDA-1 had been transported to the Kennedy Space Center and that IDA-2 was still with Boeing in Houston . IDA-1's systems were tested for about a month in a hall at Cape Canaveral LC-40 before the adapter was loaded into the Dragon CRS-7 transporter for launch .

IDA-1 was lost during the false start of the CRS-7 mission on June 28, 2015. It was planned to attach IDA-1 to the PMA-2 on Harmony. IDA-2 launched on July 18, 2016 with the CRS-9 mission and was originally intended to be attached to the PMA-3 at Harmony's zenith position . After the loss of IDA-1, IDA-2 has now been mounted on the PMA-2. The IDA-3, which is under construction, to replace IDA-1, is to be launched with the CRS-14 mission and installed on the PMA-3.

The IDA are removed from the stern of the Dragon spaceship with the Dextre module of the robot arm and docked on the corresponding PMA. Astronauts make the various connections to the PMA during an external mission.

IDA-2

The IDA-2 was launched on July 18, 2016 with a Falcon 9 as part of the payload of the CRS-9 mission and carried to the ISS in the following days. It was brought into position with the Canadarm and docked to the PMA-2 . A space walk was necessary to connect the cables and wires, which took place on August 19, 2016. In March 2019, a spaceship - a Crew Dragon - will dock with the IDA-2 for the first time as part of the SpX-DM1 test mission .

IDA-3

IDA-3 was built primarily from spare parts to replace the lost IDA-1 in order to speed completion. It was brought to the ISS on the CRS-18 mission in July 2019, where it was hooked up in an spacecraft mission by Nick Hague and Andrew Morgan on August 21, 2019 .