118 sensors to ensure the smooth connection of “Heaven”

Reading: Docking technology is a key technology that China's manned spaceflight activities must master. The reporter learned from the Shanghai Academy of Aerospace Technology that the development path of the Tiangong-1 docking organization lasted for 16 years and has successfully applied for more than 20 patents.

It is reported that in the mission of the Tiangong-1 target aircraft, the Shanghai Aerospace Technology Research Institute undertook the resource compartment structure and final assembly, the power subsystem, the docking system sub-system, the measurement and control and communication sub-system supporting stand-alone, and the overall circuit sub-system resource compartment cable network. Development tasks.

China is the second country outside of Russia to produce docking institutions. The Tiangong-1 docking facility has a total of 118 sensors to measure, 5 controllers to send commands, thousands of gear bearings to transmit force and movement, and tens of thousands of movements through 14 motors and electromagnetic dragging mechanisms. Parts and fasteners form a complex, electromechanically integrated peripheral docking mechanism with 800 mm diameter manhole access. This kind of product with many moving parts, long drive chain, and high precision must be completed by systematically integrated engineering design.

In addition, in order to ensure the completeness of the rendezvous and docking task, the software and hardware of the measurement and control communication system were completely updated and the second-generation flight control software was used for the first time. China's previously launched Sky Chain One 01, 02 star has now been networked, and will also provide monitoring and control communications for China's first space rendezvous and docking mission.