Topic: Automatic docking

[vishniac]

Hello!

China just realised their first automatic docking in space.
Russia are used to it with Progress, ESA with ATV.

But I think I have read that the US have never tested any automatic docking. They just performed piloted ones.

I can't find any answer on this on astronautix.com
Does someone know?

[yale]

That is generally correct. There have been some automated rendezvous tests and also a docking between 2 satellites launched on the same booster
http://www.boeing.com/bds/phantom_works/orbital/oe_057.html

.US spacecraft have a history of being piloted. Astronauts are quite resistant to being "passengers" of their spacecraft.The new private spacecraft, such as Dragon, will be automated. Even then, the final docking will be done with the space station "arm".

[vishniac]

Yales, happy to read you again!

I remember having read that a New Millenium mission would have tested automatic docking but I can't find it yet. Cancelled perhaps!

Astronauts being adamant to pilot everything led NASA without a very useful tool for automatic probes: Mars Sample Return would need automatic docking.So, does it mean that China is indeed more advanced in this field than the US?people tend to look down on them because their missions are few but each one scores.