SpaceX Dragon capsule docks at ISS

SpaceX Dragon capsule docks at ISS Washington: The SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule has successfully docked with the International Space Station a day late due to a temporary technical problem, NASA said.

The capsule was berthed Sunday to the Harmony module of the International Space Station.

"The hatch between the newly arrived spacecraft and the Harmony module of the space station is scheduled to be opened tomorrow (Monday)," NASA said.

Operating the Canadian-built robotic arm, US astronaut Kevin Ford grappled the privately-owned Dragon cargo ship.

The Dragon spacecraft is carrying 575 kg of supplies for the space station crew and for experiments being conducted aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The space freighter is to spend 22 days attached to the station.

During that time, astronauts will unload cargo and load the craft with 1,210 kg of Earth-bound experiment samples and equipment.

A Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon blasted off from the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Friday. The docking was initially scheduled for Saturday, but was delayed due to the thruster failure.

Shortly after the launch, the spacecraft experienced a problem with its thruster pods used for orbital manoeuvres, but they were all fixed later and the spacecraft successfully performed a manoeuvre to raise its orbit.