MOSCOW (AP) -- American astronaut Edward Lu and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko greeted the three-man crew on the International Space Station with hugs Monday after the Soyuz TMA-2 capsule carrying the U.S.-Russian duo successfully docked with the station.
After the docking took place 250 miles above Russian territory, the crew already aboard the space station opened the hatch and Lu and Malenchenko poured in through the narrow opening.
Lu and Malenchenko are replacing the trio of U.S. astronauts Kenneth Bowersox and Donald Pettit and Russian cosmonaut Nikolai Budarin, who were stuck on the station after the Columbia Shuttle disaster Feb. 1.
The Russian Soyuz became the only ship capable of carrying crews to and from the space outpost, giving it a vital role in keeping the station manned. The Soyuz trip was put together in record time.
Frederick Gregory, deputy administrator of NASA, called Monday's maneuver a ``beautiful docking.''
``The International Space Station partnership has been tested by a great challenge. The partnership has risen to the challenge and demonstrated that we are able to overcome any obstacle on this road to the future,'' Gregory said.
Maintaining a manned presence on the space station and keeping it in good condition is vital until shuttle flights resume, at which point work on building and developing the station can continue, Gregory said. The U.S.-Russian space team gave a thumbs up in a videolink established shortly after the new crew entered the station. ``We're very, very proud today at the work of our international team,'' Bowersox said.
Asked how he felt to be back on the international space station, Malenchenko said: ``It has become so big and beautiful ... We are very glad to be here, very glad to see our friends. Thanks to everyone for the opportunities given to us.''
Back on Earth, Lu's mother, Snowlily, was on hand for the docking at Mission Control outside Moscow. ``I am just so happy and proud to see everything work out so well,'' she said.
Snowlily Lu, the astronaut's brother, Rick, and his fiancee, Christine Romero, stood and leaned forward while watching the screen during the docking. They applauded and cheered when the vessels established a connection. Downstairs from the observation area, flight controllers also applauded.
``This is amazing ... It gives me a lot of relief to see that they're up there,'' Romero said. ``Everyone is proud not just for what Ed is doing, but for NASA and the international space station and for the space program as a whole, especially after the Columbia.''
Snowlily Lu said that space officials were setting up equipment for her to communicate with Edward from her home.
``The first thing I'll say is congratulations. You've done a great job,'' she told reporters.
The Russian spacecraft had blasted off Saturday morning from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in the steppes of Kazakhstan on its way to the $60 billion international space station.
Shortly after Monday's automated docking, the Russian spacecraft began the process of sealing to the space station. After 90 minutes of checks for any leaks, the hatch was opened and the crews greeted one another.
Lu and Malenchenko were bringing gifts to celebrate the birthdays of Pettit, who turned 48 on April 20, and Budarin who turns 50 on Tuesday, Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
But there won't be much time to celebrate: the crews have a lot of information to exchange. The trio currently on the international space station must give the newcomers a tour and explain safety procedures.
The American and Russian duo were to give Bowersox, Pettit and Budarin a refresher course on how to operate the Soyuz capsule, which they will use to return to Earth on May 3.
The three returning crew members will be taking back an older Soyuz already docked to the station, while the one carrying Lu and Malenchenko will stay up there with them as an ``emergency lifeboat'' in case they need to quickly evacuate.
The trio's return on the Soyuz will mark the first time that U.S. astronauts have come home on a Russian space vessel. Originally they had planned to return on a U.S. shuttle but the Columbia disaster forced the grounding of the U.S. fleet.
Lu and Malenchenko are scheduled to remain onboard until October.
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