The SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket being prepared for launch, May 18, 2012 (file photo).
The privately-built Dragon space capsule has completed its fly-by around the International Space Station in preparation for Friday's rendezvous and historic docking with the orbital outpost.
The U.S. space agency NASA says the maneuvers of the unmanned Dragon capsule were successful.
NASA says the capsule flew within two kilometers of the International Space Station as it conducted key tests, including the quality of its on-board flight systems. Dragon is scheduled to fly into position for a possible docking with the ISS on Friday.
Thursday's procedures called for the Dragon capsule to move into a position where it can ultimately be captured by the International Space Station's robotic arm and berthed at one of the ISS's docking ports. The station's six-member crew will spend the next two weeks unloading more than 500 kilograms of supplies from the capsule.
The reusable spacecraft will then leave the ISS and return to Earth with used equipment.
SpaceX Successfully Launches
1/9The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soared into space from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying the Dragon capsule to orbit at 3:44 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 22, 2012.
The Space-X rocket succesfully launched, and is scheduled to dock with the space station on Friday.
2/9The SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket lifts off as ground fog covers the pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The Space-X rocket succesfully launched, and is scheduled to dock with the space station on Friday.
3/9The SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40.
The Space-X rocket succesfully launched, and is scheduled to dock with the space station on Friday.
4/9The SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket being prepared for launch, May 18, 2012.
The Space-X rocket succesfully launched, and is scheduled to dock with the space station on Friday.
5/9June 4, 2010 file photo: A halo forms around the top of the SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket as launches from complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The Space-X rocket succesfully launched, and is scheduled to dock with the space station on Friday.
6/9Mark Patterson (L) and Matthew Rece, both with CTNewsJunkie.Com, prepare a remote camera for the launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 test rocket from Complex 40.
The Space-X rocket succesfully launched, and is scheduled to dock with the space station on Friday.
7/9NASA Administrator Bolden congratulates SpaceX after the Falcon 9 test rocket was launched successfully.
The Space-X rocket succesfully launched, and is scheduled to dock with the space station on Friday.
8/9SpaceX technicians work around the number five rocket engine on the SpaceX Falcon 9 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, May 19, 2012.
The Space-X rocket succesfully launched, and is scheduled to dock with the space station on Friday.
9/9The Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket during a long exposure as it lifts off fromCape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The Space-X rocket succesfully launched, and is scheduled to dock with the space station on Friday.
Previous slide
Next slide
Space X is attempting to become the first privately-owned company to launch a spacecraft to the ISS. NASA is hoping that Space X and other commercial enterprises will be able to replace the retired space shuttle fleet to ferry cargo and eventually astronauts to the ISS.
Russia's Soyuz spacecraft is the only vehicle currently able to send astronauts to the space station.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.
