Private space ship finally makes it to space station

Orbital Sciences freighter on trail run to outpost Slated to begin resupply flights in December Rival SpaceX preparing to test new rocket

By Associated Press

PUBLISHED: 11:56 EST, 29 September 2013 | UPDATED: 14:36 EST, 29 September 2013

NASA's newest delivery service pulled up at the International Space Station on Sunday after a week's delay, bringing more than a half-ton of meals and special treats to the astronauts who assisted in the high-flying feat.

With the smooth linkup, Orbital Sciences Corp. became only the second company to accomplish such a far-flung shipment.

The space station astronauts used their ship's huge robot arm to grab the Cygnus capsule, as the two vessels zoomed 260 miles above the Indian Ocean.

On track: The Cygnus spacecraft as it approaches the International Space Station. The Canadarm 2 which will grapple the spacecraft can be seen lower left.

Parking up: After a series of successful steering maneuvers, the Orbital Sciences Cygnus freighter parked about 39 feet from the station

Complex: Ten minutes later, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA's Karen Nyberg used the station's robotic arm to pluck the capsule from orbit and prepared to attach it to a berthing slip

Everybody is just so excited, Mission Control radioed. Ground teams described the achievement as epic and superb.`

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Private space ship finally makes it to space station