ISS orbit to be raised for next docking

MOSCOW - Russia's Mission Control Center said it was to raise the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) later Wednesday to create best conditions for spaceships' future landing and docking.

The engines of the European Space Agency's third ATV cargo spacecraft Edoardo Amaldi, which is docked with Russia's Zvezda module on the ISS, and Russia's Progress M-16M resupply spacecraft, will become the major driving force of the operation, said the Mission Control Center.

The engines are to be ignited at 8:00 pm Moscow time (1600 GMT) on Wednesday. The ISS will rise by 7.7 km within 1,876 seconds of operation, according to the center.

The adjustment of the orbit is needed for the landing and next docking of Russia's manned spaceship Soyuz, local media reported.

The landing of the outbound Soyuz TMA-04M spaceship, with two astronauts on board, is scheduled for Sept 17. The docking of the Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft with the ISS is set for Oct 15.

ISS orbit adjustments are conducted periodically before launches of Russian cargo ships or manned spaceships, to compensate for the Earth's gravity and safeguard successful dockings.