Design and implementation of China’s manned rendezvous and docking technology

In the first step of the second phase of China's manned space program, China independently developed "Tiangong-1", "Shenzhou-8", "Shenzhou-9" and "Shenzhou-10" spacecrafts. Through three in-orbit spaceflight missions, China successfully completed eight rendezvous and six docking missions covering various autonomous and manual modes of rendezvous and docking (RVD), and eventually made a breakthrough and mastered the RVD technology. From the aspects of RVD system, rendezvous orbit, rendezvous measurement and control, information transmission, docking and separation, flight plan and experimental verifications, this paper introduces the technology characteristics, innovation technology methods, and technical problems solved in China's RVD. Based on the flight tests, this paper also analyzes the achievements made by the mission and compares them with international levels. Finally the design and development conditions of China's RVD technology are summarized.