A Russian Orthodox priest waits for the Expedition 70 crew departure in the lobby of the Cosmonaut Hotel, Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 70 NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub will launch on a mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 51 Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos, left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. He and fellow crew mate, Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA, right, will spend the next four and a half months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Expedition 51 Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos, left, and Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA, right, receive the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to their launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Yurchikhin and Fischer will spend the next four and a half months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Expedition 51 Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of NASA, right, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. He and fellow crew mate, Soyuz Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos, left, will spend the next four and a half months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei waits to bless the Expedition 59 crew in the Cosmonaut Hotel, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Hague, Koch, and Ovchinin will launch March 14, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei poses for a photograph as he waits for the train transporting the Soyuz rocket to the launch pad to pass, Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 59 crewmembers Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos, will launch March 14, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine poses for a photograph with Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, as they await the Cosmonaut Hotel departure of Expedition 57 Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Nick Hague of NASA to building 254 to suit-up for their Soyuz launch, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. During the Soyuz spacecraft's climb to orbit, an anomaly occurred, resulting in an abort downrange. The crew was quickly recovered and is in good condition. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA astronaut and Astronaut Office Representative Shannon Walker plants a tree with the help of Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Alexander, during a traditional ceremony at the Cosmonaut Hotel in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. Walker is in Karaganda to help support the Expedition 56 crew Soyuz landing from the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest blesses the Soyuz rocket, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 74 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Chris Williams, Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft on November 27. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov)
Russian Orthodox Priest blesses the Soyuz rocket, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 74 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Chris Williams, Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft on November 27. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov)
Russian Orthodox Priest blesses the Soyuz rocket, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Expedition 74 crewmembers: NASA astronaut Chris Williams, Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft on November 27. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov)
An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for September 26 and will send Expedition 41 Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Flight Engineer Elena Serova of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA on a five and a half month mission aboard the International Space Station. Serova will become the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to live and work on the station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 41 Flight Engineer Elena Serova of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to her launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. She and fellow crew mates, Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev of Roscosmos, right, and Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA, not pictured, will spend the next five and a half months living and working aboard the ISS. Wilmore chose not to participate in the blessing. Serova will become the fourth Russian woman to fly in space and the first Russian woman to live and work on the station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for Nov. 24 and will carry Expedition 42 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA , and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
An Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Saturday Nov. 22, 2014, in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for Nov. 24 and will carry Expedition 42 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA , and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
An Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Saturday Nov. 22, 2014, in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for Nov. 24 and will carry Expedition 42 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Flight Engineer Terry Virts of NASA , and Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Expedition 57 Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos, left, is welcomed by Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, after Ovchinin landed at the Krayniy Airport with Flight Engineer Nick Hague of NASA, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Hague and Ovchinin arrived from Zhezkazgan after Russian Search and Rescue teams brought them from the Soyuz landing site. During the Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft's climb to orbit, an anomaly occurred, resulting in an abort downrange. The crew was quickly recovered and is in good condition. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 41 Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), right, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), Thursday, Sept. 25, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Samokutyaev, Flight Engineer Elena Serova of Roscosmos, left, and Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA, not pictured, will spend the next five and a half months living and working aboard the ISS. Wilmore chose not to participate in the blessing. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Alexander, watches over the landing zone after the Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft landed with Expedition 56 Commander Drew Feustel and Flight Engineer Ricky Arnold of NASA, along with Flight Engineer and Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. Feustel, Arnold, and Artemyev are returning after 197 days in space where they served as members of the Expedition 55 and 56 crews onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, left, blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 57 crewmembers Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch on October 11 and will spend the next six months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 58 Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos, center, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. He and fellow crewmates, Flight Engineer David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Flight Engineer Anne McClain of NASA will spend the next six and a half months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Expedition 58 Flight Engineer Anne McClain of NASA, left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to her launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. She and fellow crewmates, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will spend the next six and a half months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Expedition 54 flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox Priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft to the International Space Station, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Tingle, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will spend the next five months living and working onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 57 Flight Engineer Nick Hague of NASA, right, is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos, left, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. During the Soyuz spacecraft's climb to orbit, an anomaly occurred, resulting in an abort downrange. The crew was quickly recovered and is in good condition. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Irina Spector)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, blesses mission managers and the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 57 crewmembers Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch on October 11 and will spend the next six months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, blesses mission managers and the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 57 crewmembers Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch on October 11 and will spend the next six months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 54 Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox Priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft to the International Space Station, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Shkaplerov, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will spend the next five months living and working onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, blesses members of the media after having blessed the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 57 crewmembers Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch on October 11 and will spend the next six months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 58 Flight Engineer David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), right, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. He and fellow crewmates, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Anne McClain of NASA, will spend the next six and a half months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Head of Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center operations team in Baikonur and former cosmonaut Valery Korzun is blessed by Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 crew members Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 54 flight engineer Norishige Kanai of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox Priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch aboard the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft to the International Space Station, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Kanai, flight engineer Scott Tingle of NASA, and Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos will spend the next five months living and working onboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, blesses members of the media after having blessed the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 57 crewmembers Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch on October 11 and will spend the next six months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 57 Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos, left, is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with Flight Engineer Nick Hague of NASA, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. During the Soyuz spacecraft's climb to orbit, an anomaly occurred, resulting in an abort downrange. The crew was quickly recovered and is in good condition. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, blesses members of the media after having blessed the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 57 crewmembers Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch on October 11 and will spend the next six months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei performs the traditional crew blessing on Expedition 65 Russian cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov and crewmates NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy at the Cosmonaut Hotel as the crew departed the hotel for launch on a Soyuz rocket, Friday, April 9, 2021, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Irina Spector
Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, right, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Artemyev, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA will spend six months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, center, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Skvortsov, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos will spend six months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A Russian Orthodox priest stands ready to preform the traditional blessing of the crew at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to the launch of Soyuz TMA-12M to the International Space Station, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos will spend six months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 59 astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch later in the day, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
From left to right, Expedition 58 Flight Engineer Anne McClain of NASA, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), receive the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to their launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. They will spend the next six and a half months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Thursday, April 8, 2021 in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses mission management at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 59 astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch later in the day, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, walks over to bless the media after having blessed the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 57 crewmembers Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch on October 11 and will spend the next six months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 59 astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch later in the day, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Thursday, April 8, 2021 in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses the Soyuz rocket and members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 crew members Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses the Soyuz rocket and members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 crew members Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 59 astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos will launch later in the day, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Father Sergei, blesses members of the media after having blessed the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 57 crewmembers Nick Hague of NASA and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos are scheduled to launch on October 11 and will spend the next six months living and working aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses the Soyuz rocket and members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 crew members Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses the Soyuz rocket and members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 crew members Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch September 25th on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses the Expedition 61 prime and backup crews in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to the crew departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 crewmembers Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch later in the day on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 23 Flight Engineer Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, right, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the morning of the launch of Expedition 23 on a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, Friday, April 2, 2010 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 30 NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit, left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the day before his Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Expedition 30 Soyuz Commander Oleg Kononenko, center, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the day before his Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Expedition 27 Ron Garan, left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the evening before his Soyuz launch to the International Space Station on Monday, April 4, 2011 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Expedition 28 Flight Engineer Mike Fossum, left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the evening before his Soyuz launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Victor Zelentsov)
Expedition 30 ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andre Kuipers, center, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the day before his Soyuz launch to the International Space Station, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Expedition 39 Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Swanson, Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos will spend six months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Russian Orthodox Priest, Vladyka Feofan speaks during a Soyuz post-docking press conference at the Russian mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia on Saturday March 28, 2009. The Soyuz TMA-14 docked to the International Space Station carrying Expedition 19 Commander Gennady I. Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael R. Barratt and Spaceflight Participant Charles Simonyi. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 35 NASA Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy, left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Cassidy, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Russian Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin will spend five and a half-months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Expedition 35 Russian Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin, third from left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Misurkin, Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov and NASA Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy will spend five and a half-months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Expedition 35 Soyuz Commander Pavel Vinogradov, second from left, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Vinogradov, NASA Flight Engineer Chris Cassidy and Russian Flight Engineer Alexander Misurkin will spend five and a half-months living and working aboard the ISS. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
An Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for Sept. 26 and will carry Expedition 41 Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Flight Engineer Barry Wilmore of NASA, and Flight Engineer Elena Serova of Roscosmos into orbit to begin their five and a half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
Expedition 60 flight engineer Andrew Morgan of NASA is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with fellow crewmates Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos and Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency), Saturday, July 20, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Skvortsov, Morgan, and Parmitano launched at 12:28 p.m. Eastern time (9:28 p.m. Baikonur time) to begin their mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 59 backup crewmember Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for the prime crew's launch on a Soyuz rocket, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 59 crewmembers Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos launched March 14, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
An Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch pad on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for September 26 and will send Expedition 37/38 Flight Engineer Michael Hopkins of NASA, Soyuz Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Ryazansky on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for May 29 and will send Expedition 40 Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev, of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst, of the European Space Agency, ESA, and Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA on a five and a half month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media on the Soyouz launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
A Russian Orthodox Priest blesses the Soyuz Rocket and personnel, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad 31 in Kazakhstan. Expedition 70 NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chub are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft on Sept. 15. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Spaceflight Participant Guy Laliberté, left, Expedition 21 Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev, left center, and Expedition 21 Flight Engineer Jeffrey N. Williams receive the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the morning of their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A Russian Orthodox Priest blesses the Soyuz Rocket and personnel, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad 31 in Kazakhstan. Expedition 70 NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chub are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft on Sept. 15. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 38 Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station with Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and, Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Tyurin, Wakata, and, Mastracchio will launch in their Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft to the International Space Station to begin a six-month mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/GCTC/Irina Peshkova)
An Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for May 29 and will send Expedition 40 Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev, of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst, of the European Space Agency, ESA, and Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA on a five and a half month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
NASA Expedition 26 NASA Flight Engineer Catherine Coleman, center, is seen receiving the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel the evening before her Soyuz launch to the International Space Station on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Coleman, Soyuz Commander Dmitry Kondratyev and European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli launched to the ISS onboard a Soyuz rocket the following morning from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Russian Orthodox Priest Father Sergei blesses mission support personnel at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad after having blessed the Soyuz rocket, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Kazakhstan. Expedition 65 NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Oleg Novitskiy are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft on April 9. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 34/35 Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), right, receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the morning of their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of a Soyuz rocket later in the afternoon will send Hadfield, Roman Romanenko of Russia and Tom Marschburn of the United States on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media on the Soyouz launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 60 Soyuz flight engineer Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency) is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with fellow crewmates Andrew Morgan of NASA and Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos, Saturday, July 20, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Skvortsov, Morgan, and Parmitano launched at 12:28 p.m. Eastern time (9:28 p.m. Baikonur time) to begin their mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 61 cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with Expedition 61 astronaut Jessica Meir of NASA, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Meir, Skripochka, and Almansoori will launch later in the day on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 59 astronaut Nick Hague of NASA is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos, and Christina Koch of NASA, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Hague, Koch, and Ovchinin will launch March 14, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A Russian Orthodox Priest blesses the Soyuz Rocket and personnel, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad 31 in Kazakhstan. Expedition 70 NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, and Nikolai Chub are scheduled to launch aboard their Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft on Sept. 15. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 33/34 crew members, Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA, left, Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, and Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin of ROSCOSMOS, right, receive the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the morning of their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of a Soyuz rocket later in the afternoon will send Ford, Novitskiy and Tarelkin on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 55 flight engineer Ricky Arnold of NASA, left, Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, center, and flight engineer Drew Feustel, right, of NASA receive a blessing from a Russian Orthodox Priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing the hotel for launch on a Soyuz rocket, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Arnold, Artemyev, and Feustel will launch in their Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft to the International Space Station to begin a five month mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for May 29 and will send Expedition 40 Soyuz Commander Maxim Suraev, of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst, of the European Space Agency, ESA, and Flight Engineer Reid Wiseman of NASA on a five and a half month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 56 flight engineer Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Soyuz Commander Sergey Prokopyev of Roscosmos, and flight engineer Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency) receive a blessing from a Russian Orthodox Priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing the hotel for launch on a Soyuz rocket, Wednesday, June 6, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Auñón-Chancellor, Prokopyev, and Gerst will launch in their Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft to the International Space Station to being a six month mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
An Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 59 astronaut Christina Koch of NASA is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with Nick Hague of NASA, and Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Hague, Koch, and Ovchinin will launch March 14, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 55 flight engineer Ricky Arnold of NASA, Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos, and flight engineer Drew Feustel of NASA receive a blessing from a Russian Orthodox Priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing the hotel for launch on a Soyuz rocket, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Arnold, Artemyev, and Feustel will launch in their Soyuz MS-08 spacecraft to the International Space Station to begin a five month mission. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 59 backup crewmember Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for the prime crew's launch on a Soyuz rocket, Thursday, March 14, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 59 crewmembers Nick Hague and Christina Koch of NASA, along with Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos launched March 14, U.S. time, on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 33/34 crew members, Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA, left, Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy, and Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin of ROSCOSMOS, right, receive the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the morning of their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of a Soyuz rocket later in the afternoon will send Ford, Novitskiy and Tarelkin on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 33/34 crew members, Flight Engineer Kevin Ford of NASA, left, Soyuz Commander Oleg Novitskiy of ROSCOSMOS, and Flight Engineer Evgeny Tarelkin of ROSCOSMOS, right, receive the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel on the morning of their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch of a Soyuz rocket later in the afternoon will send Ford, Novitskiy and Tarelkin on a five-month mission aboard the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Expedition 60 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to departing for launch on a Soyuz rocket with fellow crewmates Andrew Morgan of NASA and Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency), Saturday, July 20, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Skvortsov, Morgan, and Parmitano launched at 12:28 p.m. Eastern time (9:28 p.m. Baikonur time) to begin their mission to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
NASA Expedition 25 Flight Engineer, left, Expedition 25 Soyuz Commander Alexander Kaleri, and Expedition 25 Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka receive the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel the evening before their Soyuz launch to the International Space Station on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)
Expedition 61 backup crewmember Sergei Ryzhikov of Roscosmos is blessed by a Russian Orthodox Priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Expedition 61 prime crewmembers Jessica Meir of NASA and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos, and spaceflight participant Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates will launch later in the day on the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media on the Soyouz launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
An Orthodox priest blesses the Soyuz rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 8 Commander and NASA Science Officer Michael Foale receives the traditional prelaunch blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest in the Cosmonaut Hotel crew quarters, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan before he, Expedition 8 Commander Alexander Kaleri and European Space Agency astronaut Pedro Duque of Spain departed for the launch pad. The trio were launched a few hours later on the Soyuz TMA-3 vehicle, arriving at the International Space Station on Oct. 20. Photo Credit (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
An Orthodox priest blesses members of the media on the Soyouz launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz rocket is scheduled for March 26 and will send Expedition 39 Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Flight Engineer Steve Swanson of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos on a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station.Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Expedition 38 Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos receives the traditional blessing from a Russian Orthodox priest at the Cosmonaut Hotel prior to his launch on the Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station with Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and, Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Tyurin, Wakata, and, Mastracchio will launch in their Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft to the International Space Station to begin a six-month mission. Photo Credit (NASA/Bill Ingalls)