Russia’s mission control has raised the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2.5km to ensure the best conditions for the docking of the Soyuz TMA-19 manned spacecraft and the Progress M-06M space cargo ship.

Mission control executed the adjustment in two stages with the aid of thrusters on the Progress M-05M cargo ship currently docked to the station, according to RIA Novosti.

Corrections to the ISS orbit are periodically conducted before launches of Russian cargo ships and US shuttles to compensate for Earth’s gravity and to safeguard successful dockings.