Family farewell in Baikonur

International Space Station Expedition 56/57 crew members in their Russian Sokol space suits speak with family and friends before launch onboard the Soyuz MS-09 on 6 June 2018. 

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst launched into space on 6 June at 11:12 GMT alongside Roscosmos commander Sergei Prokopyev and NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Connect with Alexander via alexandergerst.esa.int and check out the mission blog for updates: blogs.esa.int/alexander-gerst