The Crew Dragon Endurance, which launched SpaceX’s four crewed flight for NASA on Wednesday (Nov. 10), linked up with the station’s U.S.-built Harmony module at 6:32 p.m. EST (2332 GMT) as both spacecraft sailed 263 miles (423 kilometers) above Eastern Caribbean.
The spacecraft launched from pad 39A here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida less than 24 hours prior, following a series of delays due to poor weather along the rocket’s flight path as well as a minor medical issue that popped up with one of the crew members.
The one German and three US astronauts said it was an emotional moment when they first spotted the space station 20 miles (30 kilometers) distant “a pretty glorious sight,” according to Raja Chari, commander of the Dragon capsule. “Floating in space and shining like a diamond,” noted German astronaut Matthias Maurer. “We’re all very thrilled, very excited.”
The Dragon’s entire flight was automated, with Chari and pilot Tom Marshburn, ready to take control if necessary.
Arriving at the ISS on Endurance today was a crew of mostly rookie space flyers. NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, along with European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer. (Marshburn is the only member of the crew that has flown in space before.)
The four astronauts arrived safely at the station about 22 hours after their successful launch, ready to begin their mission in space. They’re to expected open the hatches between their Crew Dragon and the station at 8:10 p.m. EST.
