New Russian Module "Poisk" Docks to Station

The new Russian Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2), also known as Poisk, docked to the space-facing port of the Zvezda service module of the International Space Station Thursday at 10:41 a.m. EST. It began its trip to the station when it was launched aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

The Russian Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM2), also known as Poisk, approaches the International Space Station for docking. Credit: NASA TV

Poisk is a Russian term that translates to search, seek and explore. It will provide an additional docking port for visiting Russian spacecraft and will serve as an extra airlock for spacewalkers wearing Russian Orlan spacesuits.

Poisk joins a Russian Progress resupply vehicle and two Russian Soyuz spacecraft currently docked at the station.

Meanwhile, the Expedition 21 crew members were busy with preparations for next week’s scheduled arrival of space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-129 mission to deliver critical spare parts to the complex. Atlantis is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Nov. 16.

The crew members also were busy throughout the day with a variety of science experiments and station maintenance activities. Each crew member also had time set aside to exercise which helps to minimize the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the body.