Olympic torch blasts off
- 11 years ago
PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
It may look like any other Russian rocket launch but this one has a crucial difference.
On board the Soyuz rocket carrying three astronauts there is also the Olympic torch.
The torch, unlit for safety reasons, blasted off from the Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
Two Russian cosmonauts are planning to take it for a space walk on Saturday.
The Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi is due to host the 2014 Games.
It'll be the first time an Olympic torch will have been carried in open space, although they've been taken on space voyages before aboard the U.S. space shuttle.
The torch is due to come back down to Earth on Monday to continue its 65, 000 kilometre relay.
It may look like any other Russian rocket launch but this one has a crucial difference.
On board the Soyuz rocket carrying three astronauts there is also the Olympic torch.
The torch, unlit for safety reasons, blasted off from the Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
Two Russian cosmonauts are planning to take it for a space walk on Saturday.
The Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi is due to host the 2014 Games.
It'll be the first time an Olympic torch will have been carried in open space, although they've been taken on space voyages before aboard the U.S. space shuttle.
The torch is due to come back down to Earth on Monday to continue its 65, 000 kilometre relay.