Four astronauts from three different space agencies have safely docked at the the International Space Station
The Dragon capsule was the first SpaceX vehicle used to carry crews which had flown in a previous mission
Before docking, astronauts were warned of possible collision with unidentified piece of debris
NASA spokesperson said that the spacecraft did not have time to perform evasive maneuver
Agency later said that the object was 45 kilometers away and did not pose a threat to the astronauts
New arrivals will spend six months orbiting Earth, the current incumbents will return to the planet Wednesday
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It is the first time two SpaceX crew Dragons have been parked in space at the same time.
Shannon Walker, the space station s commander, said: We are so excited to have you aboard.
Although this was SpaceX s third crew flight for NASA, it was the first to use a vehicle which has flown before, an essential part of Musk s push to the moon and Mars.
The Dragon capsule was also used for SpaceX s first crew launch last May, while the Falcon rocket soaring Friday hoisted crew two in November.
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet of France, NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, and JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide of Japan of Crew 2 (from left, in black shirts) assemble with Crew 1 for their welcome ceremony
For pilot, latest SpaceX mission is a family affair
By Chris Boex
Watch: Falcon 9 rocket launches from Florida
The Falcon 9 rocket thundered into the morning sky from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:49 a.m. ET.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Four astronauts are headed to the space station this morning after their refurbished capsule blasted off atop a reused rocket – the first time that a crewed spacecraft has reflown since the space shuttle fleet was retired a decade ago.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center just before 6 a.m., cutting a bright path through the predawn sky. The booster s expanding exhaust plume was illuminated by the rising sun, leaving a dazzling display in the sky for several minutes that was visible for hundreds of miles across Florida.
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