Sokol suit readiness

ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst testing his Sokol pressure suit in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in preparation for his launch to the International Space Station on 6 June 2018. 

The suit protects them in case of a sudden loss of pressure, and on launch day they might be worn for many hours as the astronauts wait in their capsule for liftoff.

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