NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image above: The Russian Mini-Research Module 2, also known as Poisk, is seen shortly after docking to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA TV

The new Russian Mini-Research Module 2, also known as Poisk, docked to the space-facing port of the Zvezda service module of the International Space Station on Thursday, Nov. 12 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 Nov. 10.

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 joined a Russian Progress resupply vehicle and two Russian Soyuz spacecraft docked at the station.