LIVE: Crew-8 mission arrives at the International Space Station | REUTERS

Dragon's Approach and Docking

• Dragon is approaching the International Space Station and is about to enter orbital nighttime.
• Dragon is currently 354 meters away from the space station.
• Dragon is 280 meters away from the International Space Station and is approaching waypoint one.
• Dragon will pause at waypoint one to align with the docking port and then continue its approach.
• Dragon is currently in the keep-out sphere, a 200-meter radius around the International Space Station.
• The next major milestone will be waypoint two, 20 meters from the space station, where Dragon will focus on aligning its docking system with the International Space Station's docking port.
• Dragon is now less than 100 meters away from the International Space Station and is in orbital nighttime.
• The soft capture ring has been extended to help with a soft capture to the International Space Station.
• Both the NASA and SpaceX teams have pulled go for docking, and the crew aboard Dragon is on final approach and is go for docking.
• Dragon Crew aboard Endeavor successfully docked to the International Space Station at 11:28 p.m. Pacific Time.
• The soft capture ring retracted, and the first six hooks engaged for hard capture.
• The hard capture was complete with all 12 hooks successfully driven, ensuring a full seal between the spacecraft and the ISS.

Crew Preparations and Hatch Opening

• The crew will remain in their space suits until the vestibule is pressurized and leak checks are completed.
• Once the hard capture is complete, an umbilical will attach from Dragon to the International Space Station, providing power.
• The trunk on the back of Dragon, which contains the solar arrays, will remain attached throughout the duration of Crew 8's mission.
• The crew will have the opportunity to get out of their seats and suits and move freely about the cabin once they have worked through a few more procedures.
• Hatch opening is targeted for about an hour and 45 minutes after docking.
• NASA astronaut Jasmine Moghbeli is preparing the hatch on the ISS side for opening and pressurizing the vestibule between the Dragon and ISS hatches.
• The hatch opening and pressurization process can take a couple of hours, with an estimated hatch opening time of a little after 3:00 a.m. Central Time (4:00 a.m. Eastern Time).
• Following hatch opening, the crew will configure Dragon for on-orbit operations, receive a safety briefing, and participate in a welcoming ceremony with the seven astronauts and cosmonauts currently on board the ISS.

Crew 8 Mission Details

• SpaceX's Dragon Endeavor carrying Crew 8 successfully docked to the International Space Station (ISS) at 1:28 a.m. Central (2:28 a.m. Eastern) on March 5th.
• Crew 8 astronauts are preparing for hatch opening procedures to join the Expedition 70 crew currently aboard the ISS.
• The crew will conduct scientific research, contribute to experiments, and participate in technology demonstrations during their approximately six-month stay on the ISS.
• One experiment, known as hBARD, studies neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases using organoid models created from patient-derived stem cells.
• Another experiment, Plant UVB, examines how stress from microgravity, UV radiation, and their combination affects plants at the molecular, cellular, and whole organism levels.
• The crew will also work on handover activities with the members of NASA's SpaceX Crew 7 Mission before Crew 7 undock from the ISS and return to Earth.

Crew 8 Arrival and Welcome

• Crew-8 astronauts arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) after a 28-hour journey and successfully docked with the station.
• The crew of Dragon spacecraft, called Crew-8, includes NASA astronauts Warren "Woody" Hoburg, Kjell Lindgren, and Jessica Watkins, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.
• After the hatches were opened, the Crew-8 astronauts were welcomed aboard the ISS by the Expedition 70 crew, which includes NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide.
• Crew 8 astronauts Matt, Janette, and Alex arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) earlier than expected, surprising the Expedition 70 crew.
• The arrival of Crew 8 marks the beginning of the countdown for the Expedition 70 crew's return to Earth in about a week.
• Crew 8 expressed excitement about being on the ISS and thanked everyone involved in making their mission possible.
• Mike, a returning astronaut, shared his joy of being back on the ISS and acknowledged the efforts of NASA and SpaceX in getting them there.
• The Expedition