Probe-and-drogue docking system

Sistema Stykovki i Vnutrennego Perekhoda, SSVP (Russian: Система стыковки и внутреннего перехода, System for docking and internal transfer) is a docking standard used by Soviet and Russian spacecraft, sometimes called RDS for Russian Docking System. It has been used on all variants of Soyuz other than the Soyuz 7K-L3 and early flights of the Soyuz 7K-OK, as well as Progress, TKS, ATV, and on all Soviet and Russian space stations.

SSVP was initially conceived in 1967 by the TsKBEM design bureau for use on the then-planned OIS military space station. Though OIS never flew, in 1970 the design was selected for use on the Salyut and Almaz space stations. During its first attempted use on the Soyuz 10 mission, docking was unsuccessful due to a faulty hatch, and a failure in the automatic docking system. This led to a number of redesigns to reduce damage from accidental loads.

In the 1980s, SSVP was further upgraded to support docking of large modules, such as the ones that would be used to construct Mir. They were used to attach all pressurized modules of the Mir station, and for most spacecraft dockings (with the exception of the Space Shuttle flights, and Soyuz TM-16, which used the APAS-89 docking mechanisms located on Kristall and the Mir Docking Module.)

The modern version of SSVP is SSVP-G4000. The Russian segment of the International Space Station features four available passive SSVP-G4000 ports, located on Zvezda-aft, Rassvet, Poisk, and Pirs. An additional port, on Zarya-nadir, was used to dock Rassvet. In addition to Russian spacecraft, the SSVP was also used on the European Automated Transfer Vehicle, which docked to the aft port of Zvezda. These ports were provided by Russia in exchange for the Data Management System, supplied by ESA for use in Zvezda.

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