Fossett Update
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AAP
Fossett lifts off on record bid
19jun02
ADVENTURER Steve Fossett has taken off on his latest round-the-world balloon attempt after a few hours delay in Western Australia.
Fossett had calculated his Spirit of Freedom balloon could be away in the early hours after a four-hour inflation process.
But windy conditions in the WA town of Northam overnight delayed the inflating process.
He finally took off at about 11.35am (AEST) today.
Scores of locals turned out to cheer the start of the world record attempt.
Yesterday, Fossett said he was optimistic about the flight, but conceded that "a multitude of problems" could occur.
Northam, 100km east of Perth, was chosen as the launch pad for Fossett's sixth circumnavigation attempt because of its good winds and because the American will have a crucial day to prepare before he has to travel over water.
If he gets off the ground, he will have to fly around the world and land at a point somewhere east of Northam to enter the record books.
He said yesterday it was too early to predict where his set-down point might be, but he thought it was most likely to be in eastern Australia on the western side of the Great Dividing Range.
AAP
Fossett lifts off on record bid
19jun02
ADVENTURER Steve Fossett has taken off on his latest round-the-world balloon attempt after a few hours delay in Western Australia.
Fossett had calculated his Spirit of Freedom balloon could be away in the early hours after a four-hour inflation process.
But windy conditions in the WA town of Northam overnight delayed the inflating process.
He finally took off at about 11.35am (AEST) today.
Scores of locals turned out to cheer the start of the world record attempt.
Yesterday, Fossett said he was optimistic about the flight, but conceded that "a multitude of problems" could occur.
Northam, 100km east of Perth, was chosen as the launch pad for Fossett's sixth circumnavigation attempt because of its good winds and because the American will have a crucial day to prepare before he has to travel over water.
If he gets off the ground, he will have to fly around the world and land at a point somewhere east of Northam to enter the record books.
He said yesterday it was too early to predict where his set-down point might be, but he thought it was most likely to be in eastern Australia on the western side of the Great Dividing Range.
AAP
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05.07..UTC I just walked in the door after a night up at Northam
.. Gaunty, Islander Jock, myself and others I did not get to meet.
After all night with no sleep and all matter of problems with the wind and freezing cold, we had a beautiful launch. Even got have taste the bud light after the launch with the rest of the crew.
Thankyou to the contributors whilst I was in Northam.
You will be pleased to know, that Gaunty gave me an official PPruNe badge which I gave to Steve to wear on the trip.
Woomera etc, the badge is a travelling at 20000 feet at present.
Thanks again for providing the badge Gaunty.
Anyway, a little nap is needed before I come back to the site.
Congats to Steve on a wonderful launch..
.. Gaunty, Islander Jock, myself and others I did not get to meet.
After all night with no sleep and all matter of problems with the wind and freezing cold, we had a beautiful launch. Even got have taste the bud light after the launch with the rest of the crew.
Thankyou to the contributors whilst I was in Northam.
You will be pleased to know, that Gaunty gave me an official PPruNe badge which I gave to Steve to wear on the trip.
Woomera etc, the badge is a travelling at 20000 feet at present.
Thanks again for providing the badge Gaunty.
Anyway, a little nap is needed before I come back to the site.
Congats to Steve on a wonderful launch..
I don't want to be the best pilot in the world - Just the oldest
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Elevator,
Thanks mate for your hospitality last night.
What a fantastic experience being so close to the capsule as Steve lifted off. I just put my film in the developers for processing and expect to get back some really good ones.
YAWN I've gotta get home and get to bed.
Cheers
IJ
Thanks mate for your hospitality last night.
What a fantastic experience being so close to the capsule as Steve lifted off. I just put my film in the developers for processing and expect to get back some really good ones.
YAWN I've gotta get home and get to bed.
Cheers
IJ
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Status
June 19, 2002 01:37 UTC-- Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Launches Successfully
Current Telemetry
2002-06-19
23:43:30 UTC
Latitude 33° 0.38' S
Longitude 137° 4.47' E
Altitude 5852.2 m
Speed 84.4 km/hr
Heading 99.02°
Distance 1931 km
Duration 0 d 22:06:30
June 19, 2002 01:37 UTC-- Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Launches Successfully
Current Telemetry
2002-06-19
23:43:30 UTC
Latitude 33° 0.38' S
Longitude 137° 4.47' E
Altitude 5852.2 m
Speed 84.4 km/hr
Heading 99.02°
Distance 1931 km
Duration 0 d 22:06:30
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Steve Fossett: First In-Flight Interview
SYDNEY,AUSTRALIA, June 19,2002, 17:00:00 UTC - Steve Fossett was in an upbeat mood when he rendezvoused with a chase plane over the outback in Western Australia nearly six hours after his picture perfect launch from Northam earlier in the day.
Fossett’s Cesna Citation X jet will intercept with the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon at designated points throughout his solo circumnavigation mission. Videographers and a press photographer on board the jet will capture pictures of the balloon in flight, plus pictures in interviews with Steve Fossett from two cameras on board the gondola, and provide them free of charge to a global media pool. This will give followers of the mission regular images of Fossett’s progress.
An air-to-air microwave video hookup from the balloon to the jet during today’s intercept about 80 kilometers south of Kalgoorlie, a smiling and relaxed looking Fossett said the craft was performing brilliantly with no problems occurring.
“I’m so used to having all kinds of problems with the equipment, it’s just a pleasure to have everything running so well. The ground crew at Northam did a wonderful job preparing the Spirit of Freedom to be in perfect running order. It’s great to have everything working so well,” said Fossett as he cruised at 19,700 feet.
Fossett said his take off at Northam had been “fabulous” but his rainy ascent from take off had been “very fast”. He said, “For the first few minutes from lift off at Northam airstrip, the balloon had initially soared at a rate of 450 feet per second- about double what he would have normally expected.
After the first media air encounter with the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon, the chase plane flew on to Sydney.
At Sydney airport, a realer van from Australia’s Seven Network was waiting for the handover of a videotape of the images captured form the chase plane, which were then transmitted back to the main Seven Network station in Sydney, plus they were sent to all other Australian networks and relayed on via satellite across the Pacific to US networks who are beginning to follow the story.
Filed by Errol Considine, media team.
SYDNEY,AUSTRALIA, June 19,2002, 17:00:00 UTC - Steve Fossett was in an upbeat mood when he rendezvoused with a chase plane over the outback in Western Australia nearly six hours after his picture perfect launch from Northam earlier in the day.
Fossett’s Cesna Citation X jet will intercept with the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon at designated points throughout his solo circumnavigation mission. Videographers and a press photographer on board the jet will capture pictures of the balloon in flight, plus pictures in interviews with Steve Fossett from two cameras on board the gondola, and provide them free of charge to a global media pool. This will give followers of the mission regular images of Fossett’s progress.
An air-to-air microwave video hookup from the balloon to the jet during today’s intercept about 80 kilometers south of Kalgoorlie, a smiling and relaxed looking Fossett said the craft was performing brilliantly with no problems occurring.
“I’m so used to having all kinds of problems with the equipment, it’s just a pleasure to have everything running so well. The ground crew at Northam did a wonderful job preparing the Spirit of Freedom to be in perfect running order. It’s great to have everything working so well,” said Fossett as he cruised at 19,700 feet.
Fossett said his take off at Northam had been “fabulous” but his rainy ascent from take off had been “very fast”. He said, “For the first few minutes from lift off at Northam airstrip, the balloon had initially soared at a rate of 450 feet per second- about double what he would have normally expected.
After the first media air encounter with the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon, the chase plane flew on to Sydney.
At Sydney airport, a realer van from Australia’s Seven Network was waiting for the handover of a videotape of the images captured form the chase plane, which were then transmitted back to the main Seven Network station in Sydney, plus they were sent to all other Australian networks and relayed on via satellite across the Pacific to US networks who are beginning to follow the story.
Filed by Errol Considine, media team.
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So what then lies in the future for Steve and the Bud Light Spirit of
Freedom? Ritchie fielded that as well, " The projected route goes pretty
much directly east across the Pacific, and then it has to thread the needle
between high and low pressure, so it takes a big ride north before crossing
the Andes, and after that we've got a route projected, but anything that
far out, I think, changes before you get there, but so far, the route from
here to Chile looks real good, like we can do that in a week or less."
Steve's numbers, thus far, ascertain Ritchie's statement. Steve has
traveled 1199.9 miles (1931 kilometers), and is currently flying with a
speed of 52.5 miles per hour (84.4 kilometers per hour) at an altitude of
19,200 feet (5852.2 kilometers). Not a bad day's work!
Freedom? Ritchie fielded that as well, " The projected route goes pretty
much directly east across the Pacific, and then it has to thread the needle
between high and low pressure, so it takes a big ride north before crossing
the Andes, and after that we've got a route projected, but anything that
far out, I think, changes before you get there, but so far, the route from
here to Chile looks real good, like we can do that in a week or less."
Steve's numbers, thus far, ascertain Ritchie's statement. Steve has
traveled 1199.9 miles (1931 kilometers), and is currently flying with a
speed of 52.5 miles per hour (84.4 kilometers per hour) at an altitude of
19,200 feet (5852.2 kilometers). Not a bad day's work!
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Well back on line after about 14 hours sleep that I needed to catch up on the 48 hours without.
ELEVATOR many many thanks for your hospitality and the "ACCESS ALL AREAS" passes which allowed us to get up close and personal with Steve and the crew.
I dont think I am breaking any confidences if I reveal that ELEVATOR has some close connections with the Norham Aero Club and the baloon folks up there who were part of the Fossett team for the launch.
The Australian (Northam folks) involvement in the launch was significant and much appreciated by the Spirit mob.
ELEVATOR is much to modest to report his hands on involvement with the launch and amongst other things, is trying to work out how to log the time on that motorised fan he and half a dozen others used during the inflation process.
I was determined to get a PPRuNe badge on this historic journey but was apprehensive about the chances as 'm sure that here must hav been many other similar requests.
No problem for our intrepid ELEVATOR and it turned out the Launch Director on the site was indeed aware of PPRuNe and no doubt Steve if he wasn't now is.
It was passed on with the thought that there would be over 50,000 aviation fellow aviation Professionals encouraging him on.
Some will know of my long involvement in this part of the industry with Cessna and I had a long chat to the Citation X crew, who have a pretty itinerant lifestyle as a result of Steves peripatetic but very interesting schedule, but it was delightful to learn at first hand about how their aircraft is used as it was intended to be by the manufacturer. As a time machine. They have put over 1400 hours on it in the last few years which is over the "normal" annual utilisation and are delighted with its perfomance speed, range and reliability.
The "acclimatisation" exercise of last weekend reported by the press was a quiet weekend in Bali a mere 3 hours each way in the M0.92 bird. It's a hard life but somebody has to do it.
For the wannabes both came out of GA the most recent arrival via instructing, GA piston charter, corporate Lear now the big one.
Steve Fossett? he is like all of the other really, REALLY wealthy people I have met in my travels.
Genuinely nice, a real gentleman, determined of course, but respectful, quiet, modest, genuinely inclusive and appreciative of his team, unassuming and considerate of other people and their views and opinions.
Every one who works closely with him is the same.
No one is dominant and every ones input and views are treated as professionally as they are by each other.
If you watch him in interview you will see what I mean. The words "the genuine real thing" keeps cropping up in my mind picture of him.
As a professional operation, it was as good as I have ever seen, quiet, well managed, but relaxed and confidently, calmly and competently, planned and executed.
High tension yes, but no drama and nobody stressed.
Didn't see any member of the launch team moving at any thing other than a brisk walk at any time.
A pleasure and instructional to watch.
Good luck Steve and thanks again ELEVATOR
ELEVATOR many many thanks for your hospitality and the "ACCESS ALL AREAS" passes which allowed us to get up close and personal with Steve and the crew.
I dont think I am breaking any confidences if I reveal that ELEVATOR has some close connections with the Norham Aero Club and the baloon folks up there who were part of the Fossett team for the launch.
The Australian (Northam folks) involvement in the launch was significant and much appreciated by the Spirit mob.
ELEVATOR is much to modest to report his hands on involvement with the launch and amongst other things, is trying to work out how to log the time on that motorised fan he and half a dozen others used during the inflation process.
I was determined to get a PPRuNe badge on this historic journey but was apprehensive about the chances as 'm sure that here must hav been many other similar requests.
No problem for our intrepid ELEVATOR and it turned out the Launch Director on the site was indeed aware of PPRuNe and no doubt Steve if he wasn't now is.
It was passed on with the thought that there would be over 50,000 aviation fellow aviation Professionals encouraging him on.
Some will know of my long involvement in this part of the industry with Cessna and I had a long chat to the Citation X crew, who have a pretty itinerant lifestyle as a result of Steves peripatetic but very interesting schedule, but it was delightful to learn at first hand about how their aircraft is used as it was intended to be by the manufacturer. As a time machine. They have put over 1400 hours on it in the last few years which is over the "normal" annual utilisation and are delighted with its perfomance speed, range and reliability.
The "acclimatisation" exercise of last weekend reported by the press was a quiet weekend in Bali a mere 3 hours each way in the M0.92 bird. It's a hard life but somebody has to do it.
For the wannabes both came out of GA the most recent arrival via instructing, GA piston charter, corporate Lear now the big one.
Steve Fossett? he is like all of the other really, REALLY wealthy people I have met in my travels.
Genuinely nice, a real gentleman, determined of course, but respectful, quiet, modest, genuinely inclusive and appreciative of his team, unassuming and considerate of other people and their views and opinions.
Every one who works closely with him is the same.
No one is dominant and every ones input and views are treated as professionally as they are by each other.
If you watch him in interview you will see what I mean. The words "the genuine real thing" keeps cropping up in my mind picture of him.
As a professional operation, it was as good as I have ever seen, quiet, well managed, but relaxed and confidently, calmly and competently, planned and executed.
High tension yes, but no drama and nobody stressed.
Didn't see any member of the launch team moving at any thing other than a brisk walk at any time.
A pleasure and instructional to watch.
Good luck Steve and thanks again ELEVATOR
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Thankyou Gaunty for those most humbling words.
I would have had all PPruNers in the secure area if I knew who would have been interested in being there to join us, or known who they were. Sorry to anyone who missed out.
Although I had no input in this one, a well known PPruner, DS was on hand to witness this incredible event.
Gaunty and Islander Jock you are too kind with your praise and it was a delight for you being there, but I was more happy to share with my fellow PpruNers a truly wonderful experience. You were great company for me too. The hot chips, coffee and hot soup,yummmmmmmmmmm.
An interesting addition was that the local balloon operator on hand conducting all the wind checks and was to give the all clear to inflate etc, was in the middle of a routine audit himself and although the guy's from the dept, who I might add were very pleasant and understanding, still had to finish the audit and board aircraft for the trip home. All over a wonderful result .
This will go down in history of one of the best days of my life.
If Steve,who is a fellow member of Northam Aero Club,achieves his dream and is successful this time it was well worth a night out in the cold with my mates........Thankyou. 
I would have had all PPruNers in the secure area if I knew who would have been interested in being there to join us, or known who they were. Sorry to anyone who missed out.
Although I had no input in this one, a well known PPruner, DS was on hand to witness this incredible event.
Gaunty and Islander Jock you are too kind with your praise and it was a delight for you being there, but I was more happy to share with my fellow PpruNers a truly wonderful experience. You were great company for me too. The hot chips, coffee and hot soup,yummmmmmmmmmm.
An interesting addition was that the local balloon operator on hand conducting all the wind checks and was to give the all clear to inflate etc, was in the middle of a routine audit himself and although the guy's from the dept, who I might add were very pleasant and understanding, still had to finish the audit and board aircraft for the trip home. All over a wonderful result .
This will go down in history of one of the best days of my life.
If Steve,who is a fellow member of Northam Aero Club,achieves his dream and is successful this time it was well worth a night out in the cold with my mates........Thankyou.
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T
I have just seen your post.
You are on the ball and also correct.
We estimated about 300 feet per minute yesterday, but I believe it was about 450 ' per minute.
We gave him plenty of helium becuse of the delay and that time did not allow settle time. We upped the ballast by heaps so when the gondola was on the move by itself the ropes where pulled , excess ballast dropped and away he went.
I have just seen your post.
You are on the ball and also correct.
We estimated about 300 feet per minute yesterday, but I believe it was about 450 ' per minute.
We gave him plenty of helium becuse of the delay and that time did not allow settle time. We upped the ballast by heaps so when the gondola was on the move by itself the ropes where pulled , excess ballast dropped and away he went.
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Yup like a cork out of a champagne bottle
From what I hear with around 10 tonnes of Gondola and baloon plus around 570,000 cu.ft of helium 450 fpm from a standing start is pretty cool.
Has anyone got the He numbers to work out the total mass and physics from that perhaps. ?
I imagine it surprised every one a little and I expect Steve himself, pretty impressive.
Well done ELEVATOR you do PPRuNe proud, even though we know it was out of your naturally infectious personal enthusiasm and comittment to help your Club mate Steve we are proud that you are one of us.
All PPRuNers should bookmark the site subscribe to the email update list and send Steve your personal regards, I know he will appreciate them.
Good luck and fair winds Steve.Spirit of Freedom Solo around the world
From what I hear with around 10 tonnes of Gondola and baloon plus around 570,000 cu.ft of helium 450 fpm from a standing start is pretty cool.
Has anyone got the He numbers to work out the total mass and physics from that perhaps. ?
I imagine it surprised every one a little and I expect Steve himself, pretty impressive.
Well done ELEVATOR you do PPRuNe proud, even though we know it was out of your naturally infectious personal enthusiasm and comittment to help your Club mate Steve we are proud that you are one of us.
All PPRuNers should bookmark the site subscribe to the email update list and send Steve your personal regards, I know he will appreciate them.
Good luck and fair winds Steve.Spirit of Freedom Solo around the world
Last edited by Woomera; 20th Jun 2002 at 04:08.
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Woomera... Thank You.
In the top tent 40.000 cubic feet of helium.
The main canopy tank.. about 155,000 cubic feet of helium.
The gondola and tanks etc; approx. 12 tonnes.
The propane tanks have a double use in that they are jettisoned over the side when empty. They will open a large hole for seawater to enter and sink to the bottom.
Any other questions?
In the top tent 40.000 cubic feet of helium.
The main canopy tank.. about 155,000 cubic feet of helium.
The gondola and tanks etc; approx. 12 tonnes.
The propane tanks have a double use in that they are jettisoned over the side when empty. They will open a large hole for seawater to enter and sink to the bottom.
Any other questions?
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From the Spirit of Freedom site
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Shares the Skies
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 20, 2002, 4:00 a.m. CDT (JUNE 20, 2002, 09:00
UTC) - - Members from the launch team and commercial airline passengers,
were treated to a flyby of Bud Light Spirit of Freedom aboard their flight
to Sydney from Perth. Cole noted that it was "incredibly exciting" to see
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom off to its early success.
Following the flyby, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom continued on at an
altitude of 21,000 feet (6400.8 meters). At this flight level, Fossett is
traveling at 48 miles per hour (77.3 kilometers per hour). To date he has
flown 1,711.3 miles (2,754 kilometers).
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Shares the Skies
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 20, 2002, 4:00 a.m. CDT (JUNE 20, 2002, 09:00
UTC) - - Members from the launch team and commercial airline passengers,
were treated to a flyby of Bud Light Spirit of Freedom aboard their flight
to Sydney from Perth. Cole noted that it was "incredibly exciting" to see
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom off to its early success.
Following the flyby, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom continued on at an
altitude of 21,000 feet (6400.8 meters). At this flight level, Fossett is
traveling at 48 miles per hour (77.3 kilometers per hour). To date he has
flown 1,711.3 miles (2,754 kilometers).
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On to New Zealand
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 20, 2002, 6:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 20, 2002, 23:00
UTC) -- Steve Fossett was wide-awake and alert as the Bud Light Spirit of
Freedom journeyed out past the coast of Australia and over the Pacific
Ocean earlier today. "The city lights define the line before my Pacific
crossing," Steve stated about his first major milestone of the mission.
Currently, the balloon is roughly 345 miles southeast of the eastern shores
of Australia, heading deterministically towards the western shores of New
Zealand. At this point, Steve is about 515 miles farther southeast than
last year's attempt at the two-day mark. It is estimated that Bud Light
Spirit of Freedom will reach the shores of New Zealand at 15:00 UTC, June
21, which is only 16 hours from now.
Luc Trullemans and David Dehenauw, Mission Control meteorologists, predict
that Fossett will be able to reach the western coast of Chile in a short
five days. Two powerful weather systems that are coming face to face with
each other in the southern pacific are causing a strong wind pattern with
jet streams heading east. With the help of Trullemans and Dehenauw, Bud
Light Spirit of Freedom will hopefully catch this wind pattern to carry the
balloon forcefully towards the west coast of Chile and over the Andes.
Meanwhile, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is cruising over the Tasman Sea
between Australia and New Zealand, where Steve has recently observed his
first sunrise over the Pacific of this journey. Fossett has still been
getting healthy amounts of sleep, which is quite unusual at this point in
the trip. "There just hasn't been any action," Joe Ritchie, Mission Control
Director, commented about the flight. This happens to be good news in the
world of ballooning.
Currently, Steve Fossett is soaring at 22,000 feet (6,705.6 m) at a speed
of nearly 55 miles per hour (88.1 km/hr). His coordinates are 37 degrees
south latitude and 157 degrees east longitude. Bud Light Spirit of Freedom
has now completed 1,755.4 miles (2825 km) of its attempt to make the first
solo round-the-world balloon flight.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 20, 2002, 6:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 20, 2002, 23:00
UTC) -- Steve Fossett was wide-awake and alert as the Bud Light Spirit of
Freedom journeyed out past the coast of Australia and over the Pacific
Ocean earlier today. "The city lights define the line before my Pacific
crossing," Steve stated about his first major milestone of the mission.
Currently, the balloon is roughly 345 miles southeast of the eastern shores
of Australia, heading deterministically towards the western shores of New
Zealand. At this point, Steve is about 515 miles farther southeast than
last year's attempt at the two-day mark. It is estimated that Bud Light
Spirit of Freedom will reach the shores of New Zealand at 15:00 UTC, June
21, which is only 16 hours from now.
Luc Trullemans and David Dehenauw, Mission Control meteorologists, predict
that Fossett will be able to reach the western coast of Chile in a short
five days. Two powerful weather systems that are coming face to face with
each other in the southern pacific are causing a strong wind pattern with
jet streams heading east. With the help of Trullemans and Dehenauw, Bud
Light Spirit of Freedom will hopefully catch this wind pattern to carry the
balloon forcefully towards the west coast of Chile and over the Andes.
Meanwhile, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is cruising over the Tasman Sea
between Australia and New Zealand, where Steve has recently observed his
first sunrise over the Pacific of this journey. Fossett has still been
getting healthy amounts of sleep, which is quite unusual at this point in
the trip. "There just hasn't been any action," Joe Ritchie, Mission Control
Director, commented about the flight. This happens to be good news in the
world of ballooning.
Currently, Steve Fossett is soaring at 22,000 feet (6,705.6 m) at a speed
of nearly 55 miles per hour (88.1 km/hr). His coordinates are 37 degrees
south latitude and 157 degrees east longitude. Bud Light Spirit of Freedom
has now completed 1,755.4 miles (2825 km) of its attempt to make the first
solo round-the-world balloon flight.
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Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Continues to Cruise at Good Speeds
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 20, 2002, 8:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 21, 2002, 01:00
UTC) -Bud Light Spirit of Freedom continues to glide through the air over
the waters just east of Australia at an excellent pace of just under 60
miles per hour. This speed is more than twice the average speed of 25 miles
per hour that Fossett experienced on last year's attempt to make the first
solo round-the-world balloon flight. It is still approximated that the
balloon will reach the western coast of New Zealand around 14 hours from
now at 15:00 UTC.
Fossett is now flying at an altitude of 22,000 feet (6,705.6 m). He will
stay at an altitude between 21,000 and 24,000 feet during daylight today,
mostly in part to the sun's heat that causes the gasses in the balloon to
naturally warm up. This altitude also allows the balloon to fall into the
path of the correct winds. Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has now traveled
2493.5 miles (4,012.8 km) and has been in flight for nearly 47 hours.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 20, 2002, 8:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 21, 2002, 01:00
UTC) -Bud Light Spirit of Freedom continues to glide through the air over
the waters just east of Australia at an excellent pace of just under 60
miles per hour. This speed is more than twice the average speed of 25 miles
per hour that Fossett experienced on last year's attempt to make the first
solo round-the-world balloon flight. It is still approximated that the
balloon will reach the western coast of New Zealand around 14 hours from
now at 15:00 UTC.
Fossett is now flying at an altitude of 22,000 feet (6,705.6 m). He will
stay at an altitude between 21,000 and 24,000 feet during daylight today,
mostly in part to the sun's heat that causes the gasses in the balloon to
naturally warm up. This altitude also allows the balloon to fall into the
path of the correct winds. Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has now traveled
2493.5 miles (4,012.8 km) and has been in flight for nearly 47 hours.
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Current Telemetry
2002-06-22
01:25:00 UTC
Latitude 40° 52.41' S
Longitude 168° 58.61' W
Altitude 7467.6 m
Speed 140.1 km/hr
Heading 100.32°
Distance 6775.6 km
Duration 2 d 23:48:00
20% Complete
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 21, 2002, 6:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 21, 2002, 23:00 UTC) – Steve Fossett, in the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon, has just crossed the International Dateline when he reached the 172.5 degree west longitude mark. At that point, Steve Fossett traveled back in time from Saturday, June 22, his local time to Friday, June 21. He will eventually revisit Saturday, June 22 after another about 12 hours.
As Steve continues to cruise at more than 80 miles per hour (130.6 km/hr), the weather in front of him has not changed all that much. It is still predicted that Steve will be able to cross the western coast of Chile in about 4 days from now due to two large weather systems east of him. These two systems that have been hovering over the Pacific are still creating an enormous wind pattern that Meteorologists Luc Trullemans and David Dehenauw believe Bud Light Spirit of Freedom will be able to ride directly into a very powerful jet stream. This jet stream should carry the balloon over the Andes in South America and directly to the vast area over the Atlantic Ocean in very good time.
Steve is still holding up well with no real problems to deal with. He continues to enjoy more sleep than he ever has on any of his previous flights.
Currently, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is at 40 degrees south latitude and 172 degrees west longitude. The balloon has also just risen to a new altitude of 24,500 feet (7467.6 m). Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has been in flight for nearly 70 hours and has traveled 3,871.1 miles (6360.4 km).
Steve is allready over New Zealand on over vast amounts of water for the next four days.
2002-06-22
01:25:00 UTC
Latitude 40° 52.41' S
Longitude 168° 58.61' W
Altitude 7467.6 m
Speed 140.1 km/hr
Heading 100.32°
Distance 6775.6 km
Duration 2 d 23:48:00
20% Complete
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 21, 2002, 6:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 21, 2002, 23:00 UTC) – Steve Fossett, in the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon, has just crossed the International Dateline when he reached the 172.5 degree west longitude mark. At that point, Steve Fossett traveled back in time from Saturday, June 22, his local time to Friday, June 21. He will eventually revisit Saturday, June 22 after another about 12 hours.
As Steve continues to cruise at more than 80 miles per hour (130.6 km/hr), the weather in front of him has not changed all that much. It is still predicted that Steve will be able to cross the western coast of Chile in about 4 days from now due to two large weather systems east of him. These two systems that have been hovering over the Pacific are still creating an enormous wind pattern that Meteorologists Luc Trullemans and David Dehenauw believe Bud Light Spirit of Freedom will be able to ride directly into a very powerful jet stream. This jet stream should carry the balloon over the Andes in South America and directly to the vast area over the Atlantic Ocean in very good time.
Steve is still holding up well with no real problems to deal with. He continues to enjoy more sleep than he ever has on any of his previous flights.
Currently, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is at 40 degrees south latitude and 172 degrees west longitude. The balloon has also just risen to a new altitude of 24,500 feet (7467.6 m). Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has been in flight for nearly 70 hours and has traveled 3,871.1 miles (6360.4 km).
Steve is allready over New Zealand on over vast amounts of water for the next four days.
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
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Around the World
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 21, 2002, 8:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 22, 2002, 01:00
UTC) -- As Steve Fossett continues to make his journey across the South
Pacific Ocean, his current location is 40 degrees south latitude and 172
degrees west longitude. Many times, the question "What constitutes 'around
the world'?" arises. Up until now, Steve has managed to stay between the 30
and 40 degree south latitude marks. The earth's circumference at these
latitudes is less than the circumference at its equator. According to the
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the international governing body of
aeronautics, a pilot "must set a course of waypoints within a band of the
Earth that stays at least 30 degrees latitude south of the North Pole or 30
degrees north of the South Pole. The lines joining those waypoints (on a
"great circle" projection) must stay outside those polar caps, although
parts of the actual flight can drift inside them." Basically, this means as
long as Steve's flight stays above the 60 degree south latitude mark, his
flight will be able to qualify for an around-the-world trip. For a more
detailed description about Around the World Flight Rules, visit
http://www.fai.org/ballooning/rtw2-98.asp.
At a current altitude of 24,500 feet, Steve is traveling at a speed of
almost 83 miles per hour. Since launch from Northam, Australia at 1:37 UTC,
June 19, the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon has flown 4035.1 miles.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 21, 2002, 8:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 22, 2002, 01:00
UTC) -- As Steve Fossett continues to make his journey across the South
Pacific Ocean, his current location is 40 degrees south latitude and 172
degrees west longitude. Many times, the question "What constitutes 'around
the world'?" arises. Up until now, Steve has managed to stay between the 30
and 40 degree south latitude marks. The earth's circumference at these
latitudes is less than the circumference at its equator. According to the
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the international governing body of
aeronautics, a pilot "must set a course of waypoints within a band of the
Earth that stays at least 30 degrees latitude south of the North Pole or 30
degrees north of the South Pole. The lines joining those waypoints (on a
"great circle" projection) must stay outside those polar caps, although
parts of the actual flight can drift inside them." Basically, this means as
long as Steve's flight stays above the 60 degree south latitude mark, his
flight will be able to qualify for an around-the-world trip. For a more
detailed description about Around the World Flight Rules, visit
http://www.fai.org/ballooning/rtw2-98.asp.
At a current altitude of 24,500 feet, Steve is traveling at a speed of
almost 83 miles per hour. Since launch from Northam, Australia at 1:37 UTC,
June 19, the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon has flown 4035.1 miles.