ISS Re-Docks Escape Capsule Soyuz

The International Space Station crew has successfully re-docked the Russian escape capsule Soyuz, Itar-Tass reported Monday.

Mission control spokesman Valery Lyndin said Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov attached Soyuz manually to the ISS’ cargo module Zarya.

NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao helped control operation of onboard systems of the craft, said Lyndin. The flight from the docking compartment Pirs to Zarya has taken 23 minutes instead of planned half an hour.

The manned spacecraft Soyuz had to be removed from the docking port Pirs because the crew plans a space walk at the beginning of the next year and, attached to Pirs, the escape capsule might hinder the action of the crew in the event of an emergency.

The cosmonauts conserved the station before going into Soyuz for a case they are unable to dock to the ISS again, Lyndin said.