Docking and Berthing
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 2:52 pm
If a ship comes to a pier under its own power without assistance, it is docking.
If the ship is brought to the pier with the assistance of tugs, it is berthing.
This same distinction is made with space vehicles. If a spacecraft approaches the International Space Station (ISS) and maneuvers itself into position to connect to the space station, it is said to be docking. If the spacecraft approaches the ISS and is captured by the ISS arm and then moved toward the space station, it is said to be berthing.
If the ship is brought to the pier with the assistance of tugs, it is berthing.
This same distinction is made with space vehicles. If a spacecraft approaches the International Space Station (ISS) and maneuvers itself into position to connect to the space station, it is said to be docking. If the spacecraft approaches the ISS and is captured by the ISS arm and then moved toward the space station, it is said to be berthing.