spacetoday.net: Soyuz docks with ISS

Posted: Wed, Apr 21, 2004, 8:38 AM ET (1238 GMT)
Soyuz TMA-2 docked to ISS (NASA)

A Soyuz spacecraft docked with the International Space Station early Wednesday, two days after its launch. The Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft docked at the nadir port of the Zarya module at 1:01 am EDT (0501 GMT) Wednesday, and hatches between the station and spacecraft opened about an hour and a half later. The Soyuz spacecraft carried the Expedition 9 crew of Gennady Padalka and Michael Fincke, as well as visiting ESA astronaut Andre Kuipers. Padalka and Fincke will relieve the Expedition 8 crew of Michael Foale and Alexander Kaleri, who have spent six months on the station. Foale, Kaleri, and Kuipers will return to Earth on April 30 in the Soyuz TMA-3 spacecraft that has been docked to the station for the last six months.