Astronaut: SpaceX Ride Not as "Smooth" as NASA Space Shuttle

"We were definitely driving or riding a dragon all the way up."

Bumpy Ride

On Saturday, SpaceX shot its Crew Dragon spacecraft into orbit with human astronauts on board, becoming the first commercial spacecraft to do so.

The astronauts who rode it up seem impressed with the vehicle overall — though NASA veteran Bob Behnken compared parts of the experience unfavorably to the now-retired Space Shuttle.

"It was not quite the smooth ride the Space Shuttle was," Behnken said. "A little bit more 'alive' is the best way I would describe it."

Huffing and Puffing

Both astronauts have had extensive experience piloting NASA's now retired Space Shuttle.

"The space shuttle was a pretty rough ride heading into orbit with the solid rocket boosters," Behnken said during a welcoming ceremony aboard the International Space Station.

Dragon Rider

But this launch was different.

"And our expectation was, as we continued with the flight into second stage, that things would basically get a lot smoother than the space shuttle did," he added. "But Dragon was huffing and puffing all the way into orbit, and we were definitely driving or riding a dragon all the way up."

READ MORE: SpaceX's Crew Dragon has that 'new car smell' and flies 'totally different' than a NASA shuttle [Space.com]

More on the launch: WATCH NASA ASTRONAUTS GIVE ZERO-G TOUR OF SPACEX’S NEW CAPSULE