A delivery of smoked turkey, fruitcake and other Christmas goodies has arrived at the International Space Station after a slight delay caused by a communication drop-out.

A SpaceX Dragon capsule has pulled up at the orbiting lab three days after launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The space station's big robotic arm was able to grab the cargo carrier on the second try, after there was an issue with the space station's communication network.

The Dragon holds everything the station astronauts need for Christmas dinner, including smoked turkey, green bean casserole, candied yams, cranberry sauce and fruitcake.

There is also shortbread and butter biscuits, with tubes of icing for decorating.

Aside from festive treats, the capsule contains mice and worms for science experiments, and more than 2270 kilograms of station equipment.

Currently the space station is home to six astronauts but three will return to earth before Christmas.