An astronaut has taken a picture of what looks like a space angel. European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti snapped the Russian Soyuz launch last Wednesday.
However, from her vantage point on the International Space Station (ISS), the trails left by the crewed flight sparked the imagination of some observers. Amanda Kooser, tech expert for CNET website, compared it to an "angelic figure, wings spread, ascending toward orbit."
While the IFLScience blog described it as a “great swooping space angel”. Another online commentator posted: "Wow' almost looks like a scene from a 1960s space movie. Doesn't look real. Beautiful, but unreal looking."
Astronaut Cristoforetti, who will soon take on the role of commander of the International Space Station, wrote: "We had a spectacular view of the Soyuz launch! Sergey, Dmitry and Frank will come knocking on our door in just a couple of hours… looking forward to welcoming them to their new home!"
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, was travelling to the ISS along with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin. Cristoforetti will officially take over from fellow Expedition 67 crew member, Russian Cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev.
A traditional handover ceremony which centres around the symbolic passing of a key from the previous commander will take place on 28 September.
