Russia's Mission Control on Tuesday readjusted the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) raising it by 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles), a Mission Control spokesman said, RIA Novosti reported.
The readjustment was necessary to ensure the best conditions for the docking of the Soyuz TMA-19 manned spacecraft and the Progress M-06M space cargo ship. It was carried out in two stages with the help of thrusters of the Progress M-05M cargo ship, which is currently docked to the station.
The spokesman said the ISS orbit is now 353.8 km (219.8 miles).
A similar operation was made on June 5 with the help of thrusters on the Russian Zvezda module. The ISS was moved 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) higher then.
Corrections to the space station's orbit are conducted periodically before launches of Russian cargo ships and U.S. shuttles to compensate for Earth's gravity and to safeguard successful dockings.