International Berthing and Docking Mechanism
| IBDM fact sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Description | ||
| Role: | Part of SNCs Dream Chaser to supply cargo to the International Space Station | |
| Prime: | QinetiQ Space under ESA contract | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Outer width: | 1.42 m | 4.66 ft |
| Passageway: | 0.8 m | 2.62 ft |
| Mass: | < 325 kg | < 716.5 lb |
| Performance | ||
| Endurance: | At least 210 days | |
| Capture success rate: | > 98% using IDSS initial conditions | |
| Avionics | ||
| Redundancy: | Hot redundant (switch-over in less than 150ms) + passive safe mode | |
| Interfaces: | 28 V DC or 120V DC and 28V DC |
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| UART or MIL1553 | ||
120V DC and 28V DC
The International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM) is the European androgynous low impact docking mechanism that is capable of docking and berthing large and small spacecraft. The development of the IBDM is under ESA contract with QinetiQ Space as prime contractor.
The IBDM development was initiated as a joint development programme with NASA JSC. The first application of the IBDM was intended to be the ISS Crew Return Vehicle (CRV). In the original Agency to Agency agreement, it was decided to develop an Engineering Development Unit (EDU) to demonstrate the feasibility of the system and the associated technologies. NASA JSC were responsible for the system and avionics designs and ESA for the mechanical design. However, since the cancellation of the CRV program, the two Agencies have independently progressed with the docking system development.
The IBDM is now designed to be compatible with the International Docking System Standard (IDSS) and is hence compatible with the future ISS International Docking Adapters (IDA) on the US side of the ISS.
The European Space Agency has now started a cooperation with SNC to provide the IBDM for attaching this new vehicle to the ISS in the future. After SNC was selected as a commercial contractor to resupply the International Space Station in January 2016, ESA decided to spend 33 million euros ($36 million) to complete the design of the IBDM and build a flight model for Dream Chaser’s first mission.
The IBDM provides both docking and berthing capability. The docking mechanism comprises a Soft Capture Mechanism (SCS), and a structural mating system called the Hard Capture System (HCS), explained in more detail below. The IBDM avionics runs in hot redundancy.
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