Jump to content

Pressurized Mating Adapter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Dutchsatellites.com (talk | contribs) at 13:39, 12 November 2007 (Edit: Harmony (ISS module)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

PMA-3 arriving in the Space Station Processing Facility (NASA)

The International Space Station (ISS) uses three Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMAs) to interconnect spacecraft and modules with different docking mechanisms. The first two PMAs were launched with the Unity Module aboard STS-88. The third was launched aboard STS-92.

Uses

Each PMA on the ISS is used slightly differently, but all three perform the same basic function of connecting a Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) port of an ISS module to the Androgynous Peripheral Attach System (APAS) docking port of another module or visiting spacecraft.[1] For this the PMAs carry a passive CBM port and a passive APAS port. They are pressurized and heated from the inside, and trough docking rings as well as external connections allow for power and data communications transfer.[2]

PMA-1

This was one of the first components of the International Space Station and joins the Russian side of the station with the US side. On STS-88 the crew used the shuttle's robotic arm to attach the Zarya control module to PMA-1, which was already connected to the aft berthing port of Unity. PMA-1 now permanently connects these first two station components.

PMA-2

Unity, already docked to Endeavour via PMA-2, docking with Zarya via PMA-1 (NASA)

PMA-2 is currently mounted on the forward port of the Harmony connecting node (formerly known as Node 2) and used when Space Shuttle orbiters dock at the station. It is the only PMA that has been outfitted with Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS) hardware, which allows shuttles to stay docked longer to the space station.[3]

Due to space station assembly it has been moved several times. It was originally connected to the forward hatch of Unity, but when STS-98 delivered the Destiny in February of 2001, Destiny was berthed to that hatch and PMA-2 was moved to the forward hatch of Destiny.[4] (The removal of PMA-2 from Unity was the first time the Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) was used to disconnect two ISS components.[5]) Harmony arrived at the station on STS-120 in October 2007. After STS-120 left the station, the SSRMS relocated PMA-2 to the forward hatch of Node 2 on november 12, 2007 in anticipation of a planned move of the two components to their final location, the forward hatch of Destiny.

When a shuttle docks with the station, its "final approach [is] at a relative velocity of one-tenth of a foot per second. [As it] makes contact with Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 [latches] automatically attach the two spacecraft together. Once relative motion between the spacecraft stops, [a shuttle astronaut] retracts the docking ring on [the shuttle's] mechanism, closing latches to firmly secure the shuttle to the station."[6])

PMA-3

In October of 2000 STS-92 brought PMA-3, mounted on a Spacelab pallet, to the station.[7] It was initially attached to the nadir (bottom, or Earth-facing) hatch of Unity. One and a half months later, when STS-97 delivered the P6 solar array truss structure, Endeavour docked at PMA-3.[8] Also, when STS-98 moved PMA-2 from Unity to Destiny, Atlantis was docked at PMA-3.[4] PMA-3 was moved in March of 2001 to Unity's port hatch by the crew of STS-102 to make room for the docking of a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM).[9] On August 30, 2007 PMA-3 was moved to the nadir hatch of Unity to make room for the temporary docking of the Harmony that will be delivered by STS-120.[10]) Its final location will be the nadir hatch of Node 3 when this will be berthed to Unity, a configuration scheduled for 2010. While Node 3 is being added to ISS, PMA-3 will be temporarily docked to the nadir port of Harmony.

History

Pressurized Mating Adapters were constructed by Boeing, as was a similar adapter which allowed the U.S. Space Shuttle to dock with Russia's Mir space station.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Human Space Flight - Space Fact". NASA. 04/07/2002. Retrieved 2007-01-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "STS-92 Press Release Kit: Payload section". NASA. 10/10/2000. Retrieved 2007-10-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "International Space Station Status Report #07-08". NASA.
  4. ^ a b STS-98, Mission Control Center (February 10, 2001). "Status Report # 07". NASA. Retrieved 2007-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Harwood, William (February 10, 2001). "Atlantis crew to attach Destiny lab to station today". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  6. ^ STS-102, Mission Control Center (March 9, 2001). "Status Report # 03". NASA. Retrieved 2007-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ STS-92, Mission Control Center (October 16, 2000). "Status Report # 10". NASA. Retrieved 2007-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ STS-97, Mission Control Center (Dec. 2, 2000). "Status Report # 05". NASA. Retrieved 2007-01-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ STS-102, Mission Control Center (March 11, 2001). "Status Report # 07". NASA. Retrieved 2007-01-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "SHUTTLE/SOYUZ/ISS PROCESSING MILESTONES". CBS News.
  11. ^ [1]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Pressurized_Mating_Adapter&oldid=170956956"