The International Space Station (ISS) was moved to a higher orbit prior to the docking of Russia's Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft, a Mission Control spokesman said on Saturday.

The ISS was moved 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) higher by the thrusters on the Russian Zvezda module.

The orbit will be twice readjusted on Tuesday to receive the Soyuz spacecraft, which is scheduled to blast off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on June 16.

The correction will be carried out by the Progress M-05M space freighter, which is currently docked to the ISS.

Corrections to the space station's orbit are conducted periodically before launches of Russian cargo ships and U.S. shuttles to compensate for Earth's gravity and to safeguard successful dockings.

This year Russia has planned to launch four manned and six cargo supply missions to the ISS.

MOSCOW, June 5 (RIA Novosti)