Editing Spaceflight (section)

=== Reaching space station ===
{{main|Space rendezvous|Docking and berthing of spacecraft}}
In order to reach a [[space station]], a spacecraft would have to arrive at the same [[orbit]] and approach to a very close distance (e.g. within visual contact). This is done by a set of orbital maneuvers called [[space rendezvous]].

After rendezvousing with the space station, the space vehicle then docks or berths with the station. Docking refers to joining of two separate free-flying space vehicles,<ref name=her>{{citation|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110010964.pdf|title=ISS Interface Mechanisms and their Heritage|first1=John |last1=Cook|first2=Valery |last2=Aksamentov|first3=Thomas |last3=Hoffman|first4=Wes |last4=Bruner|date=1 January 2011|publisher=Boeing|access-date=31 March 2015|location=Houston, Texas|quote=Docking is when one incoming spacecraft rendezvous with another spacecraft and flies a controlled collision trajectory in such a manner so as to align and mesh the interface mechanisms. The spacecraft docking mechanisms typically enter what is called soft capture, followed by a load attenuation phase, and then the hard docked position which establishes an air-tight structural connection between spacecraft. Berthing, by contrast, is when an incoming spacecraft is grappled by a robotic arm and its interface mechanism is placed close to the stationary interface mechanism. Then typically there is a capture process, coarse alignment and fine alignment, and then structural attachment.|via=NASA}}</ref><ref name="nasa20090317">{{cite web |title=International Docking Standardization |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20090014038/downloads/20090014038.pdf |publisher=NASA |access-date=2011-03-04 |page=15|date=2009-03-17 |quote=Docking: The joining or coming together of two separate free flying space vehicles}}</ref><ref name=ARDS>{{cite book|last=Fehse|first=Wigbert|title=Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, UK|date=2003|isbn=978-0521824927}}</ref><ref name="AdvanDock">{{cite web|title=Advanced Docking/Berthing System – NASA Seal Workshop |url=http://gltrs.grc.nasa.gov/reports/2005/CP-2005-213655-VOL1/15Robertson.pdf |publisher=NASA |access-date=2011-03-04 |page=15 |date=2004-11-04 |quote=Berthing refers to mating operations where an inactive module/vehicle is placed into the mating interface using a Remote Manipulator System-RMS. Docking refers to mating operations where an active vehicle flies into the mating interface under its own power. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922084406/http://gltrs.grc.nasa.gov/reports/2005/CP-2005-213655-VOL1/15Robertson.pdf |archive-date=September 22, 2011 }}</ref> while berthing refers to mating operations where an inactive vehicle is placed into the mating interface of another space vehicle by using a [[robotic arm]].<ref name=her/><ref name=ARDS/><ref name=AdvanDock/>