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Space station’s orbit raised by over 2 km ahead of next Soyuz spacecraft launch

According to preliminary data, the space station’s average orbital altitude increased by 2.1 km to 417.6 km above Earth’s surface

MOSCOW, November 30. /TASS/. The orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) was raised by over 2 km to create ballistic conditions for the launch of a Soyuz MS-23 manned spacecraft, Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos announced on Wednesday.

"On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, the orbit of the International Space Station was adjusted to prepare for the spring launch of a Soyuz MS-23 manned spacecraft and the landing of a Soyuz MS-22 spaceship," Roscosmos said in a statement.

According to preliminary data, the space station’s average orbital altitude increased by 2.1 km to 417.6 km above Earth’s surface. The adjustment maneuver was carried out by igniting the thrusters of a Progress MS-20 resupply ship. The thrusters were activated at 3:25 p.m. Moscow time for 712.5 seconds, Roscosmos said.

The launch of the Soyuz MS-23 manned spacecraft is scheduled for March 2023. Currently, Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin also being a TASS special reporter in space and Anna Kikina, NASA astronauts Josh Cassada, Frank Rubio and Nicole Mann and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Koichi Wakata are working aboard the orbital outpost.

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