Much of the material is based on the experience obtained in the Apollo-Soyuz project. The book is primarily intended for docking system specialists. However, the approach to the solution of many scientific and technical problems is the same for space technology as a whole; thus, the book may be useful to a wider range of specialists. The authors would like to thank all of those who participated in the creation of the docking devices and in the execution of orbital docking, and those who directly or indirectly participated in the preparation of this book for publication. The author is grateful to the reviewer, Member-Correspondent of the USSR Academy of Sciences V. I. Feodosyev for his valuable comments on the manuscript. Reviews and comments can be mailed to 107076, Moscow, B-76, Stromynskiy Per. D. 4, Mashinostroyeniye. Introduction Orbital docking is being used more and more in the current state of space flight. The requirements made on docking devices and their complexity have increased. The practice and theory of orbital docking accumulated in the 60s and 70s has turned into an independent field of space technology. The first dockings in orbit were done at the end of the first decade of the space era, but work on the execution of docking began even earlier, in the early 60s, shortly after the flight of Yu. A. Gagarin. The second decade was marked by the widespread use of docking, primarily in the Soyuz, Soyuz-Salyut, Gemini-Agena, Apollo, Apollo-Skylab, and Apollo-Soyuz programs. Their execution fulfilled the prediction of the founder of theoretical cosmonautics, K. E. Tsiolkovskiy, on the great prospects provided by docking in space. These dockings significantly expanded the ideas of specialists on the possibilities and means of accomplishing docking. This was especially clearly demonstrated by the creation and use of the Soyuz-Salyut-Progress space complex. The use of a long-term orbital station with two docking assemblies provided a rigid union with the formation of a hermetic tunnel, as well as electrical and hydraulic
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