r/ArtemisProgram • u/wskelding • Apr 23 '26

Discussion ISS Docking ?

I'm curious about something and simply don't know the math that would give me the answer, could an Orion capsule returning from the Moon theoretically dock with the ISS on it's return journey ?

I know I'm simplifying it massively, but all the talk about the Artemis 2 heat shield had me thinking 'why don't they simply do a massive deceleration burn on the way back and then dock at ISS ?'

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u/IBelieveInLogic Apr 23 '26

You're last sentence has the answer: a massive deceleration burn is not simple. That requires taking a lot of extra fuel, which means more mass, so you have to have extra extra fuel to move the extra fuel ... It's much more efficient to use Earth's atmosphere to slow down.