Endeavour docked shortly after 10.40am UAE time on Friday following a 24-hour journey to ISS Image Credit: NASA Docking refers to the process of spacecrafts connecting in space. It is a critical part of getting astronauts and supplies to and from the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is a large modular space station in orbit around Earth. It is about the size of a big football field and orbits at an altitude of about 400 kilometers above the Earth's surface. ISS travels at a speed of about 28,000 kilometers per hour, completing one orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes. Mission Specialist Sultan Al Neyadi of the UAE, member of the SpaceX Dragon Crew-6 mission, gestures during the crew walkout from the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Launch Complex 39A ahead of their expected lift off at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Image Credit: AFP Precision and attention The docking process requires precision and attention to detail. The spacecraft will use thrusters to move closer to the ISS and must align itself with the IDA very precisely. Once it is in position, SpaceX Dragon will use its docking mechanism to latch onto the IDA and create an airtight seal. The spacecraft will then be secured to the ISS using a series of hooks and latches. All the while, the astronauts will approach the ISS after slow, careful maneuvers, using the Endeavour's advanced navigation systems to align with the IDA. An airtight seal Once it is in position, the spacecraft's docking mechanism will latch onto the IDA and create an airtight seal. The docking process can take a while, during which time the crew aboard the spacecraft and the ISS will run a series of checks to ensure that everything is working correctly. Once the Endeavour recieves a green light, the Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi along with the crew will clamber through the hatch on to the International Space Station. More From Science