Soyuz Spacecraft "Go" For Docking At ISS

Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut are preparing to make their final approach to the International Space Station after a two-day trip from a central Asian spaceport.

With Alexander Samokutyaev at the controls, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft is making a looping flyaround of the station -- a maneuver intended to line the vehicle up for a final approach to the Poisk docking compartment on the Russian side of the outpost.

The station and the Soyuz are flying in formation about 221 statute miles above the planet Earth. Samokatyaev just stopped the Soyuz about 500 feet from the station to make certain the docking apparatus on his craft is lined up properly with the Poisk docking compartment. Then the Soyuz commander will initiate the final approach to the outpost.

Docking is slated for 7:18 p.m.

You can watch the action live here in The Flame Trench. Click the NASA TV box on the right to launch our NASA TV viewer and live coverage, and refresh this page for periodic updates. A news conference at the Russian Mission Control Center will follow the docking and a hatch-opening is slated at 10:10 p.m. tonight.