ALMATY, Kazakhstan (December 21, 2012)--A Soyuz capsule carrying three astronauts successfully docked with the International Space Station Friday, increasing the size of the full crew at the orbiting laboratory to six.

American Tom Marshburn, Russian Roman Romanenko and Canadian Chris Hadfield traveled two days in the capsule before linking up with the space station's Russian Rassvet research module.

The docking took place around 255 miles above the capital of Kazakhstan.

The incoming crew will spend five months in space before returning to earth.

Their mission began with a launch from the Russian-leased Baikonur spaceport in southern Kazakhstan.

Hadfield will take over as the space station's first-ever Canadian commander in its 14-year history when the crew now onboard prepares to leave in March.