Spacecraft Docking & Capture Technology: Review

Spacecraft docking and capture technology (DCT) is a technique for to realize on-orbit connection, control and separation, and to establish crew or resource interaction between spacecrafts. the research background, development history, development trend, application prospect and technical connotation of spacecraft DCT are summarized. Firstly, the research background of spacecraft DCT is elaborated from three perspectives, which are launch vehicle size limitations generating on-orbit assembly, on-orbit service mission explosion promoting process, as well as space debris cleanup mission pushing revolution, to promote the development of DCT. Secondly, the three development history phases of the technology are extracted from the time dimension. the five development trends of the technology from the angle of the technical approaches are refined. The application prospects of this technology, from four aspects: on-orbit life extension, on-orbit operation, off-earth infrastructure and orbit modification are demonstrated. The eight key technologies in this research field are abstracted. Finally, the research direction and suggestions in this field in China are given, which is expected to provide reference for the research of DCT. © 2021 Journal of Mechanical Engineering.