How To Dock With The International Space Station

I remember reading many years back that the software algorithm that simplifies docking with the ISS is a key part of what makes Lasik eye surgery more common today. One never really knows where the knowledge from a research project will lead to a tangible to the public benefit.

I'm sure this is old news to many of you gurus, but I was surprised to hear that the Hohmann Transfer was first published in a 1925(!) book on orbital dynamics by Walter Hohmann (a German engineer). He's also the one who came up with the idea of using a separable landing module, used by the Apollo lunar missions.