For the first time in history, the Olympic torch has been taken into open space as part of the torch relay for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.<br /><br />A pair of Russian cosmonauts took turns to wave the unlit torch some 320 kilometres above Earth while outside the International Space Station.<br /><br />Inspired by the Firebird of Russian folklore, the metre-long, red and silver torch weighs almost 2 kilograms on Earth. It will light the Olympic flame when the Games start on February 7.<br /><br />This is part of what will be the longest torch relay before any Winter Olympics, and perhaps the most spectacular publicity shot.
