A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying a Russian, an American, and an Italian has docked with the International Space Station.
The docking occurred less than six hours after the Soyuz launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The trip usually takes two days, but in this case, a speedier maneuver was used in which the Soyuz orbited Earth less than four times before reaching the space station.
The maneuver has rarely been tried in the past, reportedly because it puts greater stress on the bodies of astronauts.
The incoming crew -- Russian commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineers Karen Nyberg of the United States and Luca Parmitano of Italy, representing the European Space Agency – are due to spend the next six months aboard the space station.
The docking occurred less than six hours after the Soyuz launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The trip usually takes two days, but in this case, a speedier maneuver was used in which the Soyuz orbited Earth less than four times before reaching the space station.
The maneuver has rarely been tried in the past, reportedly because it puts greater stress on the bodies of astronauts.
The incoming crew -- Russian commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and flight engineers Karen Nyberg of the United States and Luca Parmitano of Italy, representing the European Space Agency – are due to spend the next six months aboard the space station.
