A ground docking test facility for docking mechanism

Chinese space program require extensive testing to verify design and performance and to qualify hardware. For this purpose a docking test facility (DTF) is being designed. It allows reproduction on the ground of the same relative motion and contact forces and torque of two docking mechanisms that would occur in space docking to verify capturing and buffering capabilities of docking mechanism. The DTF can realize five-degree-of-freedom motion with a three-degree-of-freedom turntable and a two-degree-of-freedom carriage. The technique involves gravity balance equipment to eliminate gravitation on the active docking ring, special mass and inertia simulator to simulate spacecraft's mass and inertia properties, friction compensation using DC servomotor, and momentum compensation using flywheel. This paper describes DTF with emphasis on the configuration, features and functions.