1. Space Shuttle Docking with the Destiny Laboratory
STATION EXTERNAL AIR LOCK
About 200 miles above earth the International Space Station prepares for arrival of the Space Shuttle Orbiter. The two will dock by joining their external airlocks at the Station Vestibule, the entrance for the astronauts.

2. Station Docking Equipment
DESTINY
ISS EXTERNAL
AIRLOCK
INTERNAL
AIRLOCK

3. Station Docking Equipment
Airlocks are identical on the Space Station and the Orbiter.
The outer ring of the Station airlock is extended to meet the outer ring from the Orbiter airlock. The Orbiter then captures the Station ring and retracts to close up tightly with the Space Station.

4. Shuttle Orbiter External Airlock
ORBITER EXTERNAL AIRLOCK is a mirror image of the one on the Space Station.
TRUSS
PAYLOAD BAY

5. The Orbiter will lock onto the Space Station MOTOR DRIVEN GUIDE PETALS
(TYPICAL OF 3)
CAPTURE LATCH
(TYPICAL OF 3)
EXTENDABLE RING
LOCKS

6. Orbiter approaches the Station from 600 ft.

7. The Orbiter is in charge of the docking maneuver
The Orbiter is in charge of the docking maneuver. Thirty feet from the Station it stops to check alignment of the docking rings, then goes on to Capture and Lock at a speed of only 1/10 ft. Per sec.
INNER
AIRLOCK
HATCH
DESTINY
LABORATORY
EXTERNAL AIRLOCK
ISS
DOCKING
RING
TRUSS
ORBITER
DOCKING
RING
CARGO
DOOR
ORBITER PAYLOAD BAY

8. The Orbiter pulls airlocks together for docking
DESTINY LABORATORY
AIR LOCKS JOINED
ORBITER

9. Inside the Orbiter the inner airlock hatch is opened and you see the door to the Station

10. Say HELLO to new Space Station friends