London: The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics torch will be sent to the International Space Station on board a Russian spacecraft this week.
According to Metro.co.uk, astronauts will then carry it outside the station, as the torch will go on a spacewalk for the first time.
The mission is due to set off from the Russian-operated Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan early on Thursday morning but for safety reasons the torch will not burn when on board the space shuttle, the report said.
The Olympic torch has flown into space before, in 1996 aboard the US space shuttle Atlantis ahead of the Atlanta summer Games but has never been taken outside a spacecraft, the report added.
The four-month-long Sochi torch relay started in Moscow on October 7 and is the longest in Olympic history, the report further said.
Plane, train, car and reindeer, as well as its excursion will carry the torch by space shuttle, on its 65,000-kilometre route around Russia, according to the report.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.