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Mission Pictures: SpaceX's 1st Dragon Flight to Space Station

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Dragon Spacecraft Berthing ISS

NASA

With darkness, Earth's horizon and thin line of atmosphere forming a backdrop, the SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is grappled by the Canadarm2 robotic arm at the International Space Station. This image was taken May 25, 2012.

The Gate to the Dragon's Lair

ESA/NASA

SpaceX's Dragon unmanned cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on May 25, 2012, the first commercial vehicle to do so. Photo taken by Dutch astronaut André Kuipers.

Approach to 10 Metres

ESA/NASA

SpaceX's Dragon unmanned cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on May 25, 2012, the first commercial vehicle to do so. Photo taken by Dutch astronaut André Kuipers.

SpaceX Dragon Approaches the ISS

NASA

The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft approaches the International Space Station on May 25, 2012 for grapple and berthing.

SpaceX Dragon Approaches the ISS

NASA

The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is grappled by the Canadarm2 robotic arm at the International Space Station. This image was taken May 25, 2012.

SpaceX Dragon Approaches the ISS

NASA

The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft approaches the International Space Station on May 25, 2012 for grapple and berthing.

Maneuvering Dragon to the Docking Port

ESA/NASA

SpaceX's Dragon unmanned cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on May 25, 2012, the first commercial vehicle to do so. Photo taken by Dutch astronaut André Kuipers.

Soyuz Reflected in one of Dragon's Solar Panels

NASA/ESA

SpaceX's Dragon unmanned cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on May 25, 2012, the first commercial vehicle to do so. Photo taken by Dutch astronaut André Kuipers.

Astronauts Enter SpaceX's Dragon Capsule

NASA TV

NASA astronaut Don Pettit (in green shirt) opens the hatch to SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, the first commercial spacecraft to berth with the International Space Station, on May 26, 2012.

The Target for the Final Maneuver

ESA/NASA

The Dragon spacecraft identifies the ISS. SpaceX's Dragon unmanned cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station on May 25, 2012, the first commercial vehicle to do so. Photo taken by Dutch astronaut André Kuipers.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.