First time I've done this so please advise quality. The black and white "target" is on the Tianhe module (Forward/Aft/Radial), the arriving spacecraft (Wentian, Shenzhou, Tianzhou) aligns its "crosshairs" (I think by way of a laser) on the "target", thereby facilitating docking. Appreciate this is a very crude description.
China's Space Program News Thread
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The smaller arm is not used for repositioning.
Repositioning Wentian from current axial port to the final radial port is done by the "lyappa" arm.
See this post China's Space Program News Thread
The second photo shows the "lyappa" arm circled in blue.
@SAC, @Helius
It is not difficult to add navigation guidance devices to the lateral ports, but it is avoided due to the much increased fuel demand of doing so.
Assuming that the two objects begin from the same orbital plane that means the approaching object is behind the target in the same travel direction. The approaching object need to go side ways and turn 90 degrees, then approaches the port. This means extra fuel than docking to the radial port. Turning 23t mass 90 degrees is very costly. Compared to Shenzhou whose total mass with fuel is 7.8t, large portion being fuel in the service module. Wentian's probably has less than 5% of fuel in its 23t mass. It is really unnecessary to add anther 10t of fuel tank to Wentian just to do an one time docking.
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escobar
Brigadier
Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Runway from JL-1
What if it hits Pelosi's plane on the way down? Would it be controlled or uncontrolled?
And get rid of two pieces of junk at the same time?
I think there's a saying for it... something about birds and a stone.
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