SpaceX Dragon capsule completes ISS docking in major breakthrough for NASA space programme

Dragon blasted off from NASA’s Florida spaceport in the middle of Saturday night, watched by thousands of fascinated onlookers, and reached space minutes later.

The spacecraft completed a series of rocket thrusts nudging it into an orbit alignment with the ISS before docking 27 hours later.

After completing docking checks, astronauts from the ISS entered the Dragon capsule to welcome its passenger, dummy Ripley, onboard the space station.

America has relied on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft for eight years after NASA retired the Space Shuttle in 2011.