 "Space launch")
A three-man crew travelled to the International Space Station on Thursday, leaving behind a planet overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic, AFP reported.
Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner of Russia's Roscosmos space agency and NASA's Chris Cassidy blasted off at 08:05 GMT from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where COVID-19 had caused changes to the pre-launch protocol.
Under usual circumstances, the departing crew would face questions from a large press pack before being waved off by family and friends. Neither were present this time round because of travel restrictions imposed over the virus, although the crew did respond to emailed questions
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