The “Prichal” nodal module of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) can be equipped with the International Docking Adapter (IDA) and used to dock the American spacecraft Crew Dragon and Starliner, Teslarati writes.
The American edition notes that at present the corresponding negotiations may be conducted between Roscosmos and NASA. Teslarati recalls that currently there are two IDA adapters on the ISS, which are actively used by the Dragon and Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Two more ports, which can be equipped with IDA, are already occupied, as they are involved in the docking of the Cygnus spacecraft and, in the future, Dream Chaser. “The addition of a third IDA port on the International Space Station will greatly simplify the life of NASA,” Teslarati saw a benefit in Russia's Prichal.
The Soyuz-2.1b rocket with the Progress M-UM transport cargo module and the Prichal nodal module was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome to the ISS on November 24. Undocking of Progress MS-17 together with the spacer of the passive docking assembly of the Nauka module from the ISS took place on 25 November. Docking of the Progress M-UM module spacecraft with the Prichalom to the ISS – November 26. The separation of the instrument-assembly compartment from the “Prichal” is scheduled for December 22.
