International Docking Adapter

An IDA was permanently installed on each of the International Space Station's (ISS) two open Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMAs), both of which are connected to the Harmony module.

Prior to IDA several different docking adapters were designed to fill a similar role but were never implemented.

[1] It would have been placed on the open PMAs and converted APAS-95 to the Low Impact Docking System (LIDS).

[5] Boeing is the primary contractor for the IDAs and the adapters were assembled at their Houston Product Support Center.

[7][8] Parts from subcontractors came from 25 American states and the primary structure is from Russian company RSC Energia.

When each IDA arrived, Dextre removed it from Dragon's trunk and moved it to about 30 cm (1 ft) from the front of the PMA.

[8] The systems and targets for IDA-1 were put through about a month of tests at the Space Station Processing Facility before being loaded for launch.