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Sochi Olympic Torch Taken On Historic Spacewalk

Posted by samzenpus on from the space-relay dept.

rtoz writes "Two Russian cosmonauts have taken the torch for the Sochi Winter Olympics on its first historic spacewalk. Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky took the unlit version of the torch through the hatch of the International Space Station. The Olympic torch has been carried into space twice before – in 1996 and 2000 – but it has never left a spaceship. It was not lit aboard the space station as this would consume oxygen and pose a risk to the crew."

2 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. Meaningless by paiute · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is the flame which represents the continuity with the ancient games. An unlit torch doesn't qualify as anything but a gold plated unlit torch.

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    1. Re:Meaningless by MightyYar · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The thing flames out all the time and they relight it with a cigarette lighter. It's just symbolism either way. Personally, I think it is cooler that it was in space than that some well-connected individuals touched it in several cities.

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