The first private spacecraft to supply the International Space Station (ISS) was captured by a robotic arm extending from the ISS on Friday, NASA said.
"SpaceX Drago capsule captured by International Space Station!" NASA confirmed on its Twitter account.
"Houston, looks like we have Dragon by the tail," said US astronaut Don Pettit, who was operating the robotic arm from the space station.
The capsule's "grappling" with the ISS occurred at 9:56 a.m. The step will be followed by the docking operation, to attach the capsule to the station.
Earlier Friday, the SpaceX Dragon received the go-ahead from NASA to proceed to the holding point in preparation for grappling.
On Thursday, the capsule performed a successful fly-under of the ISS in preparation for the docking.
The capsule flew under the ISS at a distance of 1.5 miles and in-orbit tests were performed in an attempt to ensure a safe rendezvous Friday.
In addition to Thursday's successful maneuvers, the spacecraft also reached several milestones on Tuesday and Wednesday while firing its thrusters to catch up to the space station.
The spacecraft is transporting about 1,000 pounds of cargo to the ISS including food, water and clothing for the astronauts.
If the SpaceX mission proves a success, it will begin to fulfill a 2008 contract with NASA for a minimum of 12 flights carrying supplies to and from the ISS. It also was designed to carry astronauts in the future.
Once the mission is complete, the Dragon capsule will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and land in the Pacific Ocean some 250 miles off the US West Coast, where it will be recovered.
The landmark flight has not been without its problems. The spacecraft had been due to blast off atop SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket Saturday, but was grounded after a faulty part was discovered.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 9:43 PM EDT2013-05-16 01:43:06 GMT
An unmanned Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Wednesday, hauling the latest GPS satellite into orbit for the military.
An unmanned Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Wednesday, hauling the latest GPS satellite into orbit for the military.
Tuesday, May 14 2013 5:11 PM EDT2013-05-14 21:11:26 GMT
During his five months in space, Canadian astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield captivated the Twitterverse with photo after photo of our home planet, taken from orbit.
During his five months in space, Canadian astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield captivated the Twitterverse with photo after photo of our home planet, taken from orbit.
Monday, April 22 2013 11:43 AM EDT2013-04-22 15:43:20 GMT
A company contracted by NASA to deliver supplies to the International Space Station successfully launched a rocket from the Virginia coast in a test of its ability to send a cargo ship aloft.
A company contracted by NASA to deliver supplies to the International Space Station successfully launched a rocket from the Virginia coast in a test of its ability to send a cargo ship aloft.
Friday, February 1 2013 10:09 AM EST2013-02-01 15:09:40 GMT
Space shuttle Atlantis is nearing its transition to a retired shuttle orbiter, prepped for display at Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex. Here's a look inside the famous spacecraft.
Space shuttle Atlantis is nearing its transition to a retired shuttle orbiter, prepped for display at Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex. Here's a look inside the famous spacecraft.
Wednesday, December 5 2012 2:55 PM EST2012-12-05 19:55:44 GMT
We often think of Earth as a 'blue marble' floating in the vacuum of space, but a new series of images released by NASA show it as a 'black marble' -- with the outlines of cities aglow at nighttime.
We often think of Earth as a 'blue marble' floating in the vacuum of space, but a new series of images released by NASA show it as a 'black marble' -- with the outlines of cities aglow at nighttime.
Wednesday, September 19 2012 2:13 PM EDT2012-09-19 18:13:45 GMT
Shuttle Endeavour soared into the Florida sky for the last time early Wednesday, but it wasn't on a mission into space. NASA's youngest orbiter is instead on a cross-country ferry ride that will end at a California museum.
Space shuttle Endeavour soared into the Florida sky for the last time early Wednesday, but it wasn't on a mission into space. NASA's youngest orbiter is instead on a cross-country ferry ride that will end at a California museum.
Space shuttle Atlantis found a hole in the clouds and launched into history on Friday, dazzling hundreds of thousands of spectators who mobbed Florida's coast to see the program's final flight.
Space shuttle Atlantis found a hole in the clouds and launched into history on Friday, dazzling hundreds of thousands of spectators who mobbed Florida's coast to see the program's final flight.
Space shuttle Endeavour soared into the sky for the last time Monday morning, delighting a crowd of hundreds of thousands of spectators as it created a bright but brief second sunrise.
Space shuttle Endeavour soared into the sky for the last time Monday morning, delighting a crowd of hundreds of thousands of spectators as it created a bright but brief second sunrise.
Space shuttle Discovery shook off months of delays and even a last-second glitch with a spectacular launch – a bittersweet moment for NASA as its most experienced spacecraft blasted into orbit for the last time.
Space shuttle Discovery shook off months of delays and even a last-second glitch with a spectacular launch – a bittersweet moment for NASA as its most experienced spacecraft blasted into orbit for the last time.
