When ATV-3 ‘kisses Station’ tonight, there are several steps to the docking process:

  • Contact – when the docking probe on ATV first touches the docking cone set into the Russian ISS module. Set for 22:33 GMT/00:33 CEST.
  • Capture & probe retraction — takes 6-10 mins after contact
  • Upon capture, the ISS goes into ‘free drift’
  • ATV hooks closing — takes an additional 3-6 mins
  • ISS hooks closing — happens 16-22 mins after contact

These are followed by merging the electrical systems so that ATV becomes powered by ISS, and merging of data systems, so that ATV becomes integrated into the Station systems. Finally, around 30 minutes after docking, ATV goes into dormant mode. End of docking.

ATV Docking by the numbers

ATV Docking by the numbers

You can download a PDF here that gives you much more details on the design and functioning of the ATV docking system.