Baikonur (Kazakhstan), Jun 5 (EFE/EPA).- (Camera: Sergei Ilnitsky). An Orthodox priest on Tuesday blessed a Soyuz spacecraft ahead of the launch of a manned mission to the International Space Station from the Russian-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, an epa-efe photojournalist reported.
As part of the blessing service, the priest clasped a crucifix in his left hand while flinging around holy water with his right.
A crew consisting of United States NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor, German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst, and Russian Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Prokopyev, is to travel to the spacial platform on Wednesday.
The trio will be tasked with conducting various scientific experiments.
The Soyuz MS-09 is expected to dock at the ISS on Friday.
 
Keywords: efe,epa,kazakhstan,soyuz,launch