A Russian spacecraft carrying a crew of three, including one American and two Russians, has docked with the International Space Station.

Soyuz linked up with the ISS just after 12:30 Thursday morning in the United States.

The spacecraft's arrival comes on the 45th birthday of on-board American astronaut Joe Acaba.

Acaba and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin began their journey on Tuesday with the launch of the Soyuz spaceship from Kazakhstan.

The crew will now prepare for the arrival of the first privately owned cargo ship bound for the ISS.

SpaceX's Dragon Capsule is scheduled for launch in two days from Cape Canaveral Florida.

Acaba and the two Russians cosmonauts will take part in experiments with a three man international crew already aboard the space station before returning to earth in mid September.