Avdeyev, who has already spent half a year in orbit, will stay for another six months and return in August with Afanasyev and Haignere.

CNN: Space crew reaches Mir for possibly last mission

The hatches were later opened and Russian commander Viktor Afanasyev, Frenchman Jean-Pierre Haignere and Slovak Ivan Bella joined two Russians, Gennady Padalka and Sergei Avdeyev, who were already on the station.

CNN: Space crew reaches Mir for possibly last mission