Science
Engineers teach spacecraft to 'dream' their way to the space station
Docking with the ISS may seem simple. However, actually doing so shows how difficult orbital mechanics can be.
AI Summary
Docking a spacecraft with the International Space Station is far from simple; it requires navigating orbital mechanics at roughly 28,000 km/h (17,000 mph). Engineers liken the maneuver to parallel‑parking a vehicle in a moving garage, where any forward thrust causes the craft to drift upward because there is no atmospheric friction to slow it. A collision would be catastrophic, killing crew on both vehicles and generating debris capable of destroying dozens of satellites and potentially endangering people on Earth.
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