The International Space Station (ISS) has recently welcomed a new addition - the international docking adapter (IDA). This crucial piece of hardware marks a significant milestone for NASA's Commercial Crew program, which aims to have private companies build and operate spacecraft capable of taking astronauts to and from the ISS. The IDA is a key component in this endeavor, providing a secure and efficient means for spacecraft to dock with the station.

The IDA was designed to allow vehicles to automatically dock with the ISS, eliminating the need for astronauts to manually guide incoming spacecraft into position. This automation will not only save time but also reduce the workload on the astronauts, who can then focus on other critical tasks. The adapter features a suite of onboard sensors that enable an incoming spacecraft to guide itself into one of the ports on the ISS. Once in place, the IDA's set of 12 hooks latch onto the vehicle and secure it to the station.

According to Sean Kelly, a key figure in the development of the IDA, this technology is crucial for the success of Commercial Crew. "This is huge for commercial crew because without the international docking adapter, there's no way for the vehicles to come to the station and dock and do the crew transfer," he stated. The automation of this process will enable spacecraft to dock with the ISS more efficiently, paving the way for private companies like SpaceX and Boeing to launch their own crews to space.

The IDA is not just a technical achievement but also marks an important step forward in NASA's plans to open up the International Space Station to more private companies. By providing a standardized docking system, the agency aims to make it easier for other entities to participate in spaceflight. As Kelly noted, "We're now opening it up to commercial entities and non-traditional countries to participate in this." This move represents a significant shift towards a more collaborative approach to space exploration.

The installation of the IDA was not without its challenges. The first adapter was slated for launch in June 2015 but ultimately did not make it to the ISS due to a malfunction during the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's ascent. However, SpaceX successfully launched the second IDA in July 2016, albeit with some delays and setbacks. NASA had initially planned for both adapters to be installed before the first commercial crew launch, but this was not strictly necessary.

Instead, the agency's focus shifted towards ensuring that the ISS was properly configured for Commercial Crew operations. The first commercial crew launches are scheduled for 2017, although it remains uncertain whether a second IDA will be available on the station at that time. NASA has announced plans to send up another IDA in the near future, pending scheduling considerations.

Once the two adapters are fully installed, they will enable a new capability known as direct crew handover. This process involves docking two commercial vehicles with the ISS simultaneously, allowing an incoming crew to spend some time with an outgoing crew before departing. The need for multiple adapters becomes apparent when considering the potential risks associated with relying on a single docking system. If one adapter fails for any reason, incoming spacecraft will lack an alternative means of docking.

The IDAs have been built to the International Docking System Standard, which is an international standard for building spacecraft docking systems. This standard provides a clear set of guidelines and specifications that can be followed by other space agencies and private companies looking to develop their own docking technologies. As Kelly pointed out, "Up to this point it's really been a very small club of spaceflight participants. By doing this and putting this standard out there, we're now opening it up to commercial entities and non-traditional countries to participate in this." This move is expected to have far-reaching implications for the future of space exploration, as more private companies and nations take advantage of the opportunity to join the ISS's orbiting crew.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enAstronauts have just finished installing thenew international docking adapter to the outsideof the International Space Station, and thatmeans that private spacecraft now have a placeto hook up to the orbiting lab.The international docking adapter — or IDA— is a key piece of hardware for NASA’sCommercial Crew program.That’s where private companies build andoperate spacecraft that can take astronautsto and from the International Space Station.Currently, NASA astronauts have to fly onRussian vehicles to get to the station, butwith Commercial Crew, American astronautswill be flying to space on American-made vehiclesagain.SpaceX and Boeing are the two companies workingon those vehicles for NASA at the moment.SpaceX is developing this: a modified versionof its Dragon cargo capsule, called Crew Dragon.And Boeing is creating this — the CST-100Starliner.When those vehicles finally launch to thespace station, they’ll be able hook up tothe docking adapter.Sean Kelly: “This is huge for commercialcrew because without the international dockingadapter, there’s no way for the vehiclesto come to the station and dock and do thecrew transfer.”Loren: A critical aspect of the IDA is thatit allows vehicles to automatically dock withthe space station.Right now, incoming cargo spacecraft fromSpaceX or Orbital ATK don’t actually dock.They berth.Astronauts use the station’s robotic armto grab the spacecraft and pull it close toone of the ports on the ISS where it attaches.It’s something that takes up a lot of theastronauts’ time.With the new IDA, the station’s crew doesn’thave to be involved with the docking process.The adapter has a suite of onboard sensorsthat help an incoming spacecraft guide itselfinto the port.The IDA then has a set of 12 hooks that latchonto the vehicle and dock it to the ISS.Jon Cowart: “Theoretically, when they’recoming in, it’s a hands off, we let thisthing come in and dock on its own.Of course there will still be the capabilityto do a manual dock if something goes wrong,but the plan is for both of our providersis to use the international docking adapterand just hands off let it come on in and dockitself up.”Loren: The installation of this IDA was extraimportant, since it was actually meant tobe the second adapter installed on the station.The first one was slated to go up in Juneof 2015, but that didn’t really work out.The adapter was destroyed when the SpaceXFalcon 9 that was carrying it disintegratedduring launch.SpaceX made up for that incident by successfullylaunching this IDA in July 2016, but NASA’splans were still thrown off slightly.Sean Kelly: “Our plan had been to have bothinternational docking adapters on the ISSbefore the first commercial crew launch.However it wasn’t required that we haveboth of them there.It was just a desire that the space stationwas properly configured for them.”Loren: The first commercial crew launchesare scheduled for 2017.But it’s possible that only one IDA willbe available on the station when that happens.NASA said it is hoping to send up anotherIDA before the first launches get underway.That may not be the case depending on howschedules line up.But eventually two IDAs will be needed whenCommercial Crew gets into full swing.In the future, NASA wants to be able to dosomething called a direct crew handover.That’s where two commercial vehicles aredocked with the ISS at the same time, allowingan incoming crew to hang out briefly withan outgoing crew.And NASA’s going to need two adapters forthat.Plus if there’s only one IDA installed,incoming spacecraft won’t have an alternativedocking option if that adapter fails for somereason.Sean Kelly: “Once we get to a point wherewe have multiple commercial crew providersflying then we need both international dockingadapters.”Loren: But once those two adapters are fullyinstalled, that will be a big step towardNASA’s plans of opening up the InternationalSpace Station to more private companies.The IDAs have been built to the InternationalDocking System Standard.It’s an international standard for how tobuild spacecraft docking systems.Anyone that wants to build a spacecraft todock with the ISS can download the specs forthe standard online.That means that more private companies, beyondSpaceX and Boeing, could potentially hookup to these IDAs some day.Sean Kelly: “Up to this point it’s reallybeen a very small club of spaceflight participants.To date, there’s only been three entitiesthat have ever docked human vehicles in space,China, the US, and Russia.By doing this and putting this standard outthere, we’re now opening it up to commercialentities and non traditional countries toparticipateinthis.”\n"