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Space Exploration

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    $\begingroup$ It does look like an extrapolated difference in orbits over the next several Earth orbits, ignoring the mechanical connection. And not just noise: the station has active attitude control thrusters and control moment gyroscopes that were making adjustments during this process (they called out switching from thrusters to CMGs to reduce jostling while doing the hard dock). $\endgroup$
    – Christopher James Huff
    Commented May 31, 2020 at 16:20
  • $\begingroup$ @ChristopherJamesHuff They didn't go to free drift for docking? Interesting. I guess they had to for shuttle because it was so much more massive. $\endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    Commented May 31, 2020 at 17:03
  • $\begingroup$ @OrganicMarble IIRC, the Shuttle took over attitude control duties while it was docked, and you wouldn't want the systems fighting each other. The Dragon probably inhibited its attitude control system before it made physical contact. $\endgroup$
    – Christopher James Huff
    Commented May 31, 2020 at 17:18
  • $\begingroup$ @ChristopherJamesHuff The ISS had to be in free drift for docking, after that "it depends" on which took over control. But only one at a time. $\endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    Commented May 31, 2020 at 17:30
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    $\begingroup$ For reference, youtu.be/AIyonw6LEOs?t=23925 is one of the SpaceX stream timestamps showing this display after soft-capture. $\endgroup$
    – Erin Anne
    Commented Jun 4, 2020 at 15:56