Astronauts on the space station just caught a big Dragon
SpaceX's Dragon supply capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) early Sunday morning.
European astronaut Tim Peake used the robotic arm on the ISS to grab the Dragon capsule, swing it around to an available airlock, and attach it.
The spacecraft is hauling 7,000 pounds' worth of cargo, including science experiments, food, water, and other supplies that the astronauts need aboard the ISS.
The capsule also carries an inflatable room called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM for short.
Astronauts will deploy and attach the bedroom-sized BEAM to another port of the space station on Saturday, April 16, according to NASA TV.
Then they'll slowly pump the capsule full of air.
Bigelow and NASA hope the room proves worthy as a lightweight, compact model for future additions to the ISS. (The crew on board will also certainly appreciate the extra living area.)
The technology could lead to more efficient spacecraft designs, provide more room on long-duration missions, and possibly help Earthlings establish the first settlements on Mars.
It's been a great few days for SpaceX.
Shortly after SpaceX launched the mission on Friday afternoon, the company pulled off the first-ever landing of a rocket booster on a barge at sea.
The technique could save companies millions of dollars every launch by recycling rocket parts, drastically reduce the cost of access to space in the process.
Watch the full video of the Dragon docking with the ISS below.