The Russian cargo spacecraft Progress MS-09 has completed its fastest trip to the International Space Station (ISS).

Launched onboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Progress MS-09’s flying time was 3 hours and 40 minutes.

This was achieved due to a two-orbit flight profile and the use of precise timing to launch the Soyuz rocket.

The rocket took off just before the ISS cruised over the Baikonur cosmodrome.

Following the docking of Progress MS-09 at the ISS, Roscosmos said in a statement: “Progress MS-09 cargo spacecraft was docked at the Pirs docking compartment.

“Progress MS-09 cargo spacecraft was docked at the Pirs docking compartment.”

“The berthing was done automatically, under the guidance of the specialists of the Chief Operating Control Group of the Russian segment of the ISS and the Russian cosmonauts Oleg Artemiev and Sergei Prokopiev who were working from the ISS.”

The spacecraft was loaded with more than two tons of cargo, including fuel, air, equipment for maintaining the station, care packages for the astronauts, and crew life support instruments.

According to Nasa, which covered the entire journey of Progress MS-09 live, the less-than-four-hour trip is expected to confirm an expedited capability that could be used on future Russian cargo and crew launch missions.

Progress MS-09 is scheduled to stay at the ISS until late January next year.