Space

ISS orbit to be adjusted March 16 - mission control

RIA Novosti

14/03/2007 14:01 MOSCOW, March 14 (RIA Novosti) - The International Space Station's orbit will be adjusted March 16 to prepare for the docking of a Russian spacecraft, Russia's mission control said Wednesday.

Corrections to the space station's orbit are conducted periodically before launches of Russian cargo ships and U.S. shuttles to compensate for the Earth's gravity and to ensure successful dockings.

"On Friday, March 16, the station's orbit is planned to be adjusted with the help of the docking and guidance system of a Progress M-58 cargo ship," the mission control's spokesman said.

The maneuver is required to create optimal conditions for a Soyuz TMA-10 piloted spacecraft scheduled to be launched April 7 and provide for the landing of a Soyuz TMA-9 spaceship in the designated area planned for April 20, the spokesman said.