Smooth docking after Elon Musk’s historic SpaceX launch into space

SpaceX delivers two astronauts to the International Space Station, following up a historic lift-off with an equally smooth docking.

Doug Hurley enters the International Space Station. Picture: AP

SpaceX has delivered two astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA, following up a historic lift-off with an equally smooth docking in yet another first for Elon Musk’s company.

With test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken poised to take over manual control if necessary, the SpaceX Dragon capsule on Sunday (Monday AEST) pulled up to the station and docked automatically, no assistance needed.

The hatches swung open a few hours later, and the two Dragon riders floated into the orbiting lab and embraced the three station residents. Unlike the SpaceX and NASA flight control rooms, there was no social distancing or masks needed in orbit since the new ­arrivals had been in quarantine for many weeks.

“The whole world saw this mission, and we are so, so proud of everything you have done for our country and, in fact, to inspire the world,” NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said.

Colonel Hurley credited Space­X and added: “It’s great to get the United States back in the crewed launch business.”

It was the first time a privately built and owned spacecraft carried astronauts to the space station in its 20 years of existence. NASA considers this the opening volley in a business revolution encircling Earth and eventually stretching to the moon and Mars.

The docking occurred 19 hours after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Kennedy Space Centre, the nation’s first astronaut launch to orbit from home soil in nearly a decade.

Colonel Behnken said the Dragon was “a slick vehicle” and he was surprised at how rough the ride was on the latter part of ­ascent, compared with the space shuttle, which he and Colonel Hurley had ridden twice.

“Dragon was huffing and puffing all the way into orbit,” he said.

AP