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.<br />As part of the blessing service, the priest clasped a crucifix in his left hand while flinging around holy water with his right.<br />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.<br />The trio will be tasked with conducting various scientific experiments.<br />The Soyuz MS-09 is expected to dock at the ISS on Friday.<br /> <br />Keywords: efe,epa,kazakhstan,soyuz,launch
