The precise choreography of arriving at the International Space Station

Space · Published 18 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Watch how a Soyuz spacecraft navigates from launch to docking, transitioning three astronauts from Earth's surface to life aboard the orbital laboratory.

This video captures the pre-launch activities and mission profile for crew rotations to the ISS. It highlights the logistical transition of personnel—such as when Expedition 27 members prepared to join the station to restore its crew size to six members.

Key operational details include the three-hour, two-orbit journey from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The process culminates in an automatic docking with specific modules like Prichal, followed by the opening of hatches to begin a mission that can last approximately eight months.

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