Jay Clemens
Boeing will move forward on its work to build a fresh docking system for the International Space Station following completion of the technology’s critical design review.
The company will design the NASA Docking System Block-1 to lock current and emerging aircraft system to the ISS’ docking adaptor, Boeing said Tuesday.
“With this milestone, our team remains on schedule to support vehicle dockings for NASA beginning in 2016,†said John Shannon, Boeing’s International Space Station program manager.
The docking system will also comprise a tunnel to facilitate crew and cargo movements between the two vehicles.
Boeing built the system to help crew members stay docked with the ISS for up to seven months once the NDSB-1 begins operation.
Boeing will also work to modernize the NDSB-1 system for future NASA missions.
