If it was coming in on a trajectory to decelerate and end up at the space station, then failing to decelerate would result in it passing nowhere near the space station.
Remember, the space station isn't a stationary target. It's tooling a long at 7km/second or so. Everything has to go exactly according to plan for the two to end up at the same place at the same time.
stickmanDave t1_j5xc4kn wrote
Reply to comment by janoc in Why do sample return missions such as OSIRIS-REx use their own reentry vehicles instead of just going to the space station for pickup and return with ISS equipment? by PromptCritical725
If it was coming in on a trajectory to decelerate and end up at the space station, then failing to decelerate would result in it passing nowhere near the space station.
Remember, the space station isn't a stationary target. It's tooling a long at 7km/second or so. Everything has to go exactly according to plan for the two to end up at the same place at the same time.