Boeing and Russian aerospace company RSC-Energia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a future common docking system for advanced space exploration vehicles.

The two aerospace firms will collaborate to produce a mechanism based on Energia’s existing androgynous peripheral docking system (APDS), which has been used to connect space shuttles to the ISS for over a decade

Boeing’s space exploration division vice president and general manager Brewster Shaw said that as the commercial space market matures, there will be a need for an international standard for docking on orbit.

“Boeing and Energia will draw on proven experience to provide an innovative docking solution for future space exploration,” he said.