With the 22nd 2014 Winter Olympics approaching, Russian president Vladimir Putin has decided that it is time that the Olympic torch be taken back to space. Yes, back. this will be the third time the torch has gone to space, once in 1996 and again in 2000. The only difference being is that this time, the torch will go on its first space walk. This is just one of the many stunts president Putin has done in an attempt to change the perception of Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union for the February 7th Winter Games. the shuttle took off November 7th and returned November 11th safely with Russian Fyodor Yurchikhin, American astronaut Karen Nyberg and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano in Central Khazakstan.