STRUCTURAL LATCH FOR VEHICLE COUPLING MECHANISMS

摘要

A structural latch (114) is provided for mechanically joining vehicle coupling mechanisms (32, 34) such as spacecraft coupling and berthing mechanisms. The structural latch (114) is manually operable to join the coupling mechanisms (32, 34). Each structural latch (114) is configured to be readily removable from the joined coupling mechanisms (32, 34) in the event the latch (114) becomes inoperable so as to effect coupling mechanism separation.