The hatch opened and, one after the other, the crew from the Sojuz vessel slid effortlessly into the space station.

With a big smile on her lips, Swedish-American Jessica Meir glanced around and hugged her colleagues. Then a short conversation with the earth was waiting where the loved ones had to ask their questions to the astronauts.

And the first question was partly in Swedish - by a relative of Meir.

"It was great to see you" take off, "said the next of kin and then asked what the journey had been like.

- It's hard to understand that we're here! In fact, it has felt very much like being in the simulator - until it moves, and you see the view, Jessica Meir replied in NASA's live broadcast.

The meters surprised

The trip has gone well, she explains in the broadcast. It, despite the measuring instruments, gave a result that she was not used to from the training.

- There were some small details that we had not seen before in the simulator. And of course, all the emotions. It feels like you're suddenly hanging from the ceiling. But it will usually feel pretty soon, she says.

At the International Space Station, Meir and her crew will now spend six months. During that period, among other things, samples will be taken on them - to investigate how people's bodies handle such a long time in weightlessness.