# Faster trip to space station

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-trip-to-space-station/654258>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 29, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-trip-to-space-station/654258 "2013-03-29T13:43:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-trip-to-space-station/654258/1 "2013-03-29T13:43:21Z")

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How can a Soyuz get to the [space station in four orbits](http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?collection_id=14483&media_id=161384641&module=homepage) rather than the usual number?

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-trip-to-space-station/654258/2 "2013-03-29T13:51:00Z")

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> **[Soyuz 'Fast Track': How 1-Day Space Station Trips Work (Infographic)](https://www.space.com/20412-soyuz-one-day-spaceflight-infographic.html)**
>
> Russia's Soyuz spacecraft can now launch crews to the International Space Station in a single day. See how it works in this SPACE.com infographic.

Here’s some basic info, but I don’t know if it goes into the level of detail you’re looking for.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-trip-to-space-station/654258/3 "2013-03-29T14:07:27Z")

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Thanks, Telemark.  
I guess you just burn more fuel.

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**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-trip-to-space-station/654258/4 "2013-03-29T15:12:14Z")

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Actually, it doesn’t take any more fuel; in fact, it probably requires less than the more lugubrious trajector. It is just that the quicker incercept has a significantly shorter launch window and requires more precise targetting, which is made possible by recent (2010) avionics upgrades to the current generation Soyuz vehicle, which give it better on-board internal navigation and flight computer, as opposed from having to send telemetry to a ground station and receive feedback on orbital arguments. The Russians have been very cautious regarding upgrades to to the Soyuz system, and with good reason: it has one of the highest space launch and operation demonstrated reliabilities of any space launch system in history.

Stranger

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-trip-to-space-station/654258/5 "2013-03-29T15:18:37Z")

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Thanks.