spacetoday.net: Soyuz docks with ISS

Posted: Sun, Apr 17, 2005, 1:04 PM ET (1704 GMT)
Soyuz TMA-6 docks with ISS (NASA)

A Soyuz spacecraft docked with the International Space Station Saturday night, bringing a new crew and a visiting astronaut to the orbiting outpost. The Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft docked with the Pirs airlock module of the station at 10:20 pm EDT Saturday (0220 GMT Sunday), two days after launch from Baikonur. The automated docking was a success, although observers noted an unexpected roll of 10 to 15 degrees by the Soyuz after making contact with the station. On board the Soyuz is the Expedition 11 crew of Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips, as well as visiting ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori. Krikalev and Phillips will relieve the existing station crew of Leroy Chiao and Salizhan Sharipov, who will return to Earth with Vittori in a week.