Critical geometric features and dimensions are taken from SSP 41004J “CBM to Pressurized Element ICD”, several NASA Execute Packages, technical papers found in the NTRS, and many on-orbit photographs stored in the National Archives. Ancillary features and details have been simplified or omitted for clarity. Drawing is not to a scale of uniform precision.
References used to create the figure (notes and citations are below):
- SSP-41004J “Common Berthing Mechanism to Pressurized Elements Interface Control Document Part 2”, National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas (October 25, 2005). The ICD is authoritatively called by the spec as being applicable in its entirety. Referred to below as “the ICD”.
- T683-13850-3, “Common Berthing Mechanism Assembly Qualification Test Report”, Boeing Defense and Space Group, Missiles and Space Division, Huntsville, AL (October 8, 1998). Referred to in the notes as “the AQT”.
- NSTS photographs of assembly and on-orbit operations in the National Archives (e.g., //catalog.archives.gov/search?q=common%20berthing%20mechanism&f.materialsType=photographsandgraphics). All NSTS photographs are now in the archives, including many previously published on neither the NASA website nor on the new Flikr feed. Where some specific photograph is referred to, a NASA photograph designator is used.
- ISS photographs of assembly and other on-orbit operations in the NASA collections (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/). Where some specific photograph is referred to, a NASA photograph designator is used. Few, if any, of the ISS Expedition photographs are yet available in the national archives. Only a small fraction appear to have been published as yet on the Flikr feed.
- The Kennedy Space Center media archives (//mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/#/Home/), referred to below as “KSC”.
- NASA/CR-2010-216890 “The Mechanical Performance of Subscale Candidate Elastomer Docking Seals” (NTRS record #20100039390), referred to as “MPS” below.
- NASA/TM—2012-217722 “A Comparison of Candidate Seal Designs for Future Docking Systems”, (NTRS record #20120015496), referred to as “CCSC”, below.
- Underwood, Steve and Oleg Lvovsky, “Implementation of Leak Test Methods for the Internation (sic) Space Station (ISS) Elements, Systems and Components” (NTRS #20070022572), referred to below as “Underwood”.
- JSC-48503, “International Space Station ISS/Shttle Joint Operations Book”, National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Johnson Space Center Mission Operations Directorate, Operations Division (28 JUN 05), referred to in the notes as “Joint Ops”. See //www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/123838main_iss_shuttle_joint_ops_book.pdf.
Notes:
- Critical dimensions of the ACBM structural ring are documented in several figures of the ICD.
- The height of the ring is found in Figure 3.1.4.1-4.
- Planform dimensions of the lower (“inboard”) flange of the ring are in Figures 3.3.2.1-2 and -3. The thickness of the inboard flange is from Figure 3.1.4.1-10.
- Thickness of the outboard flange was estimated from numerous flight photographs (e.g., STS092-354-019 at //catalog.archives.gov/id/23171334) as being the same as that of the PCBM ring. The thickness of the PCBM flange itself is found in Figure 3.3.10-10 of the ICD. The outboard flange diameter is found in Figure 3.3.7-1. The outboard flange’s inner diameter and powered bolt locations were taken from Figure 3.1.4.1-8.
- Thickness of the vestibule wall on the ACBM ring is not clearly documented in the available material. It was assumed as equal to that of the PCBM ring, which is explicitly shown in Figure 3.3.10-10 of the ICD.
- Part nomenclatures are as in the AQT Figure 2-1. Excepting only the ring/module flange bolts, the part numbers shown are the as-qualified versions tabulated in AQT Appendix B.1. The bolts themselves are as specified in ICD Figure 3.3.2.1-7.
- Seal annotations in the subject figure are as identified in ICD Figure 3.1.4-11, 3.1.4.2-2 and Figures 3.3.2.1-7 through -11.
- Characteristics of the cbm/cbm seal cross-section were based on Figure 2 of the MPS, Figure 4 of the CCSD and Figure 5 of Underwood, but using the bead configuration shown in Figure 2 (sic) on page 185 of the Joint Ops. The thickness of the seal substrate was calculated from ICD figure 3.1.4.1-17.