Ending all speculation and drama the two US astronauts entered theInternational Space Station last night smoothly.
The US astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken have floated intothe International Space Station (ISS), and were met with hugs and handshakesfrom ISS Commander and fellow Nasa astronaut Chris Cassidy and Russiancosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner.
This is the first time in human history @NASA_Astronauts have entered the @Space_Station from a commercially-made spacecraft. @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug have finally arrived to the orbiting laboratory in @SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour spacecraft. pic.twitter.com/3t9Ogtpik4
β NASA (@NASA) May 31, 2020
They spoke to mission control from the spacecraft saying they arehonoured to be a small part of the programme.
"I just wanted to find out if you guys got any sleep on your way up there?" Administrator @JimBridenstine asks @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug about their overnight trip on @SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour from Earth to the @Space_Station. pic.twitter.com/rQdW09Mr86
β NASA (@NASA) May 31, 2020
Earlier On Sunday night, two American astronauts flew to theInternational Space Station, the world's only space-based laboratory, locatedabout 400 km from the earth, in a journey that has been undertaken hundreds oftimes earlier.
Check out all of the pictures made by the NASA HQ photo team of @NASA's @SpaceX Demo-2 launch from @NASAKennedy! From crew arrival to hatch opening #LaunchAmerica ππΈβ‘οΈ https://t.co/8due5jBg5Y pic.twitter.com/MKZWmRyyaq
β NASA HQ PHOTO (@nasahqphoto) May 31, 2020
The event generated tremendous excitement around the globe, notbecause of any special technological achievement but because of the agency thatfacilitated the trip. It was the first time that astronauts used a spaceshipbuilt and launched by a private company, and the event is being widely seen asthe beginning of a new era in space exploration.
"We're just happy to be here and Chris [Cassidy] is going to put us work. And hopefully we will fit in and not mess too many things up." @Astro_Doug on him and @AstroBehnken being the newest crew members of the @Space_Station. pic.twitter.com/Y5xZJFn2As
β NASA (@NASA) May 31, 2020