A Soyuz capsule carrying three astronauts successfully
docked Friday with the International Space Station, bringing the size of the
crew at the orbiting lab to six.
Chris Cassidy of the United States and Russians Pavel Vinogradov and Alexander Misurkin travelled six hours in the capsule before linking up with the space station's Russian Rassvet research module over the Pacific Ocean, just off Peru, at 10:28 p.m. ET.
Chris Cassidy of the United States and Russians Pavel Vinogradov and Alexander Misurkin travelled six hours in the capsule before linking up with the space station's Russian Rassvet research module over the Pacific Ocean, just off Peru, at 10:28 p.m. ET.
"It's such a beautiful sight, hard to believe my
eyes," the 59-year-old Vinogradov, who had been in space in 1997 and 2006,
was heard saying on NASA TV.
The incoming crew will spend five months in space before
returning to Earth.
About two hours passed before pressure equalized between the
capsule and the station, allowing safe entrance.
"Hey, is anyone home?" joked Vinogradov as he
floated into the station.
Warm welcome
Cassidy, Vinogradov and Misurkin were greeted with cheers
and hugs by American Tom Marshburn, Russian Roman Romanenko and Canadian Chris
Hadfield, who have been at the station since December.
The astronauts then had a brief session with Mission Control
outside Moscow, talking with friends and relatives.
"You're such a star! I'm really proud of you!"
Misurkin's tearful mother said. The 35-year-old Russian is on his first flight
into space.
Their mission began with a late-night launch from the
Russian-leased Baikonur launch pad in Kazakhstan.
It was the first time a space crew has taken such a direct
route to the orbiting lab. Cassidy, Vinogradov and Misurkin are the first crew
to reach the station after only four orbits instead of the standard 50-hour
flight to reach the station.
The new manoeuvr was tested successfully by three Russian
Progress cargo ships, unmanned versions of the Soyuz used to ferry supplies to
the space station. Russian cosmonauts have described the two-day approach
manoeuvr in the cramped Soyuz as one of the most grueling parts of missions.
Vinogradov said at a pre-launch news conference that the
shorter flight path would reduce the crew's fatigue and allow the astronauts to
be in top shape for the docking.
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