Not sure if I should post this in the ISS Q&A thread, but I have been asked about "the difference between the 'hybrid' and 'classic' probe-and-cone docking mechanisms" and realized I don't have a clue! The only reference I could find by Googling is a reference to Zvezda, the Service Module:
The aft docking port has a probe and cone docking mechanism to allow dockings by Progress resupply spacecraft and Soyuz piloted spacecraft. It also will be outfitted with an automated rendezvous and docking system. The forward docking ports all will have hybrid docking mechanisms to allow docking with the Zarya using the forward-facing port...
Is there an explanation or diagrams available of what these actually are?
lmike - 26/12/2006 5:53 PMYou are completely right, I missed the probe mechanism reference, didn't realize the 'hybrid' is a specific term for the specific hardware, to me it just seemed to refer to the APAS as a description of the operation mode, sorry for the confusion.
nacnud - 26/12/2006 2:28 PMThe hybrid and classic docking systems are both probe and cone docking systems, the APAS-89 is an androgynous system. The differnce btween the classic and hybrid is size, hybrid is larger and is used to join modules together, all the front ports of Zvezda are hybrid ports. The smaller classic docking system is used to dock Soyuz and Progress vehicles. The rear ports of Zvezda and the nadir ports of Zarya and Pirs are this type. The front port of Zarya is an APAS.
bobthemonkey - 28/12/2006 10:11 AMAPAS 89 is used in the PMA's to dock to the shuttle and the Zarya/PMA1 interface.
Danderman - 29/12/2006 10:54 AMQuotebobthemonkey - 28/12/2006 10:11 AMAPAS 89 is used in the PMA's to dock to the shuttle and the Zarya/PMA1 interface.AFAIK, these are APAS-95 units. If there is a source that definitely states that these are APAS-89, I would be surprised.
Jorge - 29/12/2006 7:17 PMQuoteDanderman - 29/12/2006 10:54 AMQuotebobthemonkey - 28/12/2006 10:11 AMAPAS 89 is used in the PMA's to dock to the shuttle and the Zarya/PMA1 interface.AFAIK, these are APAS-95 units. If there is a source that definitely states that these are APAS-89, I would be surprised.AFAIK, the only difference between 89 and 95 is on the "active" side, so the difference should only affect the PMA-1 APAS, which (again, AFAIK) is the only active APAS on ISS (it was used exactly once, for the berthing of the FGB on STS-88). FGB and PMA-2/3 are passive APAS.
lmike - 30/12/2006 2:13 AMQuoteJorge - 29/12/2006 7:17 PMQuoteDanderman - 29/12/2006 10:54 AMQuotebobthemonkey - 28/12/2006 10:11 AMAPAS 89 is used in the PMA's to dock to the shuttle and the Zarya/PMA1 interface.AFAIK, these are APAS-95 units. If there is a source that definitely states that these are APAS-89, I would be surprised.AFAIK, the only difference between 89 and 95 is on the "active" side, so the difference should only affect the PMA-1 APAS, which (again, AFAIK) is the only active APAS on ISS (it was used exactly once, for the berthing of the FGB on STS-88). FGB and PMA-2/3 are passive APAS.Please forgive my ignorance, but doesn't the 'androgynous' in the APAS refer to the interchangeability of the docking collars/mechanisms? As such, would the 'active'/'passive' distinction re: the APAS be a misnomer? Or is it that one can be re-configured into passive/active on demand? (still a bit confused about this one)
lmike - 30/12/2006 1:34 PMAh, that's clear enough. Thanks much. This matter of precise terminology with regards to the APAS operation often comes up wrt dockings in other discussions, this has clarified it for me. Sorry for sidetracking the thread a bit.
Also the two systems (APAS and ADBS) share aperture sizes etc. so amodule or spacecraft designed to mount one is relatively easy to modifyto mount the other