geekosystem

The hatch has been opened and history made as SpaceX’s Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to dock and resupply the International Space Station. During this historic mission, Dutch astronaut André Kuipers took some spectacular images from last week’s approach and berthing maneuvers several hundred miles above the surface of the Earth. See his amazing pictures below.

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1. No. 1 | Over the Dunes

   

   During its journey to the ISS, the Dragon did a series of stop/start demonstrations -- just to ensure that the approach could be aborted.via

2. No. 2 | Over the Rocky Mountains

   

   via

3. No. 3 | Got the Dragon by the Tail

   

   Once captured, astronauts onboard the station maneuvered the spacecraft around for berthing. via

4. No. 4 | Reaching for the Dragon

   

   The station's Canada arm reaches for the Dragon. via

5. No. 5 | Dragon Berthed

   

   History is made. All that was left to do is open the hatch. via

6. No. 6 | Inside the Dragon

   

   While some of the ISS astronauts commented on the vehicle's "new car smell," astronaut André Kuipers wrote on Flickr, "Beautiful. Spacious, Modern. Blue LEDs. Feels a bit like a sci-fi filmset. Of course it is from Los Angeles." via

(all images via André Kuipers)

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