Russia extends travel time to International Space Station from 6 hours to 2 days

The Russian Federal Space Agency says the next manned trip to the International Space Station will be extended from the usual six hours to two days.

Roscosmos said in a statement released on Wednesday that the decision was made due to security concerns after the space lab had to adjust its orbit last month, dodging space junk.

The roll-out of a new Soyuz rocket in March 2013 allowed Russia to cut travel time to the orbiting lab from two days travel in cramped quarters to just six hours.

The next manned mission to the ISS is due to blast off from the Russia-leased launch pad in Kazakhstan on September 2, carrying a Russian, a Kazakh and a Dane.