The U.S.-Russian crew of the international space station successfully re-docked a spaceship at a new port on the station Monday in preparation for two space walks early next year, Mission Control said. Russian Salizhan Sharipov and American Leroy Chiao re-docked the Soyuz TMA-5 spaceship after a 23-minute flight from the Pirs docking port to the Zarya cargo module, said Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin. Sharipov used manual controls to move the Soyuz 30-50 meters (100-165 feet) away from the station and then re-approach. The re-docking on Monday was aimed to ensure "maximum safety" of the crewmen when they leave and re-enter the station through the Pirs for the two spacewalks scheduled for January and March, Lyndin said. Before entering the spaceship early Monday, the crewmen turned off the ventilation and life-support systems on the station, putting it in conservation mode for the time it would be unoccupied.
