For the first time in nearly nine years, astronauts have arrived at the International Space Station in a spaceship that was made in the USA.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which was christened Endeavour soon after Saturday’s launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, hooked up with the station at 7:16 a.m. PT today.

Endeavour brought NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the station’s Harmony port, prompting space station commander Chris Cassidy to ring the naval bell that’s part of the tradition for welcoming space crews.

“Dragon arriving,” Cassidy declared.

The astronauts and NASA mission controllers spent more than two hours conducting leak checks and communication checks, leading up to the opening of the final hatch between Endeavour and the space station at 10:02 a.m. PT. Minutes later, Hurley and Behnken floated through the hatch, hugged their new space station crewmates and lined up for a photo op.

“We’re just really glad to be on board this magnificent complex,” said Hurley, who bumped his head as he came through the hatch. [...]. Alan Boyle GeekWire May 31, 2020

Tags:   NASA screenshot series peggyhr SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule arriving Endeavour 7:16 a.m. PT May 31, 2020 ISS Harmony port IMG_7573a spaceship made in USA NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken DSLR Autofocus Level 1 Level 1-PFR

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