SpaceX Dragon successfully docks on Space Station

The SpaceX Dragon successfully docked with the International Space Station on Friday morning, the first commercial spacecraft to ever do so.

"Looks like we caught a Dragon by the tail." - Astronaut Don Pettit after capturing @SpaceX Dragon capsule with ISS robotic arm.

— NASA Kennedy / KSC (@NASAKennedy) May 25, 2012

Dragon and the International Space Station were both trending on Twitter Friday morning shortly after 9 a.m. as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the privately owned Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) tweeted updates on the attempt.

The successful cargo mission, a cooperative effort by NASA and SpaceX, is the first step in the administration's goal to privatize space transport to and from the International Space Station. SpaceX is one of several private companies awarded contracts by NASA to develop their spacecraft capabilities.

The attempt to dock the unmanned Dragon required the use of a robotic arm on the Space Station. SpaceX announced their success at 9:57 a.m.

CAPTURE COMPLETE!!!

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 25, 2012

#Dragon grappled to the International Space Station!!! twitter.com/SpaceX/status/…

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 25, 2012