Olympic Torch in Space?

Lighter note today, as numerous media outlets reported that Russia was maybe, possibly, thinking about considering a plan to send the Olympic torch to the International Space Station as part of its trip around the world in the run-up to the 2014 Olympics.  The deputy head of Russia's Federal Space Agency, Vitaly Davidov, has said that the idea is "theoretically possible."  In the understatement of the year: 

"The idea itself is very interesting and, in theory, could be implemented. But ways of its realization must be studied painstakingly," Davydov said. "Frankly speaking, we have not studied possibilities to deliver [the] Olympic flame to the ISS. This is a very specific issue. Naked flame onboard the space station is prohibited for safety reasons," he added.

Unfortunately, I can already report that "tradition prevented Russia from taking the novel step of lighting the torch in space from sunbeams."  I don't even really have a joke here for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that this story kind of stands on its own.  But close your eyes and imagine an open flame in a space shuttle for days on end.  Then hit yourself in the head for even thinking about it.

Of course, I guess it's no more or less silly than projecting and evaluating Russia's 2014 hockey roster in February.  Of 2011.