Russian Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft blessed

A Russian Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft on the launch pad at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The rocket is set to blast off to the International Space Station on December 15, with US astronaut Cady Coleman, Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli and Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratiev on board.

Picture: GETTY

Soyuz TMA-16 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan

Cirque du Soleil Tourist on board
The Soyuz TMA-16 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 carrying Expedition 21 Flight Engineer Jeffrey N. Williams, Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev and Spaceflight Participant Guy Laliberté to the International Space Station.

(Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)