Newest NASA arrivals address briefing LIVE from ISS; toy dragon & Earth bauble in tow

Newly arrived NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, joined by astronaut Chris Cassidy participated in a press conference on International Station Monday. Cassidy welcomed two astronauts and said smell of hatch was like a 'new car.'

"When we've got that hatch open, you could tell it was a brand new vehicle with smiley faces on or side, smiley face on mine, just as if you h bought a new car. same kind of reaction. Wonderful to see my friends and wonderful to see a brand-new vehicle," he said.

Hurley showed off small U.S. flag during a news conference and again in a linkup with X hequarters in Hawthorne, California.

"You can bet we will take it with us when we depart back to Earth," said Hurley, floating alongside Dragon crewmate Bob Behnken.

flag flew on first shuttle flight in 1981 and final one in 2011. Hurley was on that last shuttle crew. flag was an ded incentive for Elon Musk's X company and Boeing, competing to be first private company to launch a crew to station.

Saturday's liftoff of NASA astronauts was first from U.S. in nine years. Boeing's first astronaut flight isn't expected until next year. crew will include Chris Ferguson, commander of last shuttle flight who w works for Boeing.

Behnken said one of first things he did upon reaching orbiting lab was call his 6-year-old son, o, to hear what is was like to watch his far blast into "and share that a little bit with him while it was still fresh in his mind." Hurley and Behnken spent Monday making sure ir docked Dragon is rey to make an emergency getaway, if necessary. capsule will serve as ir lifeboat during ir station visit.

y joined three station residents an American and two Russians. NASA will decide in coming weeks how long to keep m re. ir mission could last anywhere from one to four months.

timing will depend on Dragon checkouts in orbit and launch preparations for company's next astronaut flight, currently targeted for end of August. With so much uncertainty and so many variables, Behnken said it was a little hard explaining to his son when he'd back. "From his perspective, he's just excited that we're going to get a dog when I get home," Behnken said with a smile.

Im credits: AP