Moscow [Russia], November 29 (ANI/Sputnik): The first-ever launch of a spacecraft to carry two space tourists to the International Space Station (ISS) at the same time, will take place on the morning of December 8, Russian state space corporation Roscosmos said on Monday.

"According to the Russian plan of ISS flight, the Soyuz-2.1A rocket carrying the Soyuz MS-20 transport spaceship with the 20th visiting ISS expedition on board is scheduled to lift off from the Baikonur cosmodrome at 10:38 am Moscow time [07:38 GMT] on December 8, 2021," the agency said.

Also Read | Omicron COVID-19 Variant: 'US May Face Fifth Wave of Coronavirus', Says Disease Expert Anthony Fauci.

The crew will include Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin and two Japanese space tourists - billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and his assistant Yozo Hirano. For the first time in history, the ISS-bound spacecraft will carry more than one space tourist.

The backup crew includes Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov and another Japanese space tourist, Shun Ogiso.

Also Read | Australia: New South Wales To Ease COVID-19 Restrictions Despite Omicron Variant Concerns.

The 66th expedition currently working at the ISS includes Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov, and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, as well as the third Crew Dragon mission involving Raja Chari, Thomas Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and Matthias Maurer. (ANI/Sputnik)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)