Space station grabs Japan cargo ship

Space station resident Nicole Stott used the robot arm at the orbiting complex to grab the 18-ton supply ship as it hovered 30 feet (9 meters) away. The vessel, the first of its kind, was launched a week ago from Japan.

It was the first time an unmanned ship was grabbed from orbit like this. The older-style Russian ships actually dock at the space station. So do Europe's freighters.

Mission Control erupted in applause when the robotic snares tightened on the vessel 225 miles (362 kilometers) above the planet. Stott gave a double thumbs-up.

"It's a real example of international cooperation, with a Japanese vehicle captured by a Canadian arm with American and European astronauts, with a safety guy from Canada, under the command of a Russian," said Belgian astronaut Frank De Winne.

The six space station occupants celebrated by raising specially decorated foil drink bags with straws and sipping the water inside; Kazinform cites China Daily.

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