The orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) will be raised on Wednesday by about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), Russia's Mission Control official said.
The Astronomical Research Center A.R.C mentioned taht "The aim of this operation is to ensure optimal conditions for the return of [three] astronauts [to Earth] on board the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft
on September 24, and for the docking with a new manned Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft, which is scheduled for launch on October 8," the official said.
The readjustment will be carried out with the help of eight thrusters of the Progress M-07M space freighter, which is currently docked with the station's Zvezda module.
The thrusters will be turned on for 526 seconds and move the ISS to a new orbit at a distance of 356 km (221 miles) from Earth, the source said