Fossett Update
Join Date: Oct 1998
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What impressed me as a specator on the outer was the fact that when Fossett said he was going to fly, he took the the trouble to walk some considerable distance so as to make the announcement in front of the general viewing area. Unfortunately then large media men clustered round a rather short Steve and all I could see was that the camera belonged to Ch 10!
As for the lift off I reckon to start with he was doing better than 2 in 1, then the wind must have dropped and from underneath it appeared near vertical for a couple of minutes.
Elevator was the fast shuffle across the pad by about 20 guys holding down the capsule planned or did he nearly go 2 minutes early?
As for the lift off I reckon to start with he was doing better than 2 in 1, then the wind must have dropped and from underneath it appeared near vertical for a couple of minutes.
Elevator was the fast shuffle across the pad by about 20 guys holding down the capsule planned or did he nearly go 2 minutes early?
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Great effort, but.....
Anyone like me find their web site degraded by the continual references to the sponsor tacked onto everything. They seem incapable of writing "the balloon"; it is always name of sponsor - Spirit of Freedom balloon at every opportunity. There seems to be a rule that the sponsor's name has to appear at least 5 times on every page.
The pictures also show the sponsor's name on the table as well as the walls inside the capsule fer chrissake!
To me, this turns what should be a great achievment into a marketing exercise and it grates.
(Rant over)
The pictures also show the sponsor's name on the table as well as the walls inside the capsule fer chrissake!
To me, this turns what should be a great achievment into a marketing exercise and it grates.
(Rant over)
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Around the World Flight Rules
Thanks Elevator for the web site - link doesn't work - you may want to edit out the (ful stop) dot at the end then it does.
Thanks for all the great reports you gave us. Would have loved to be there too.
I was a little disappointed at the web site giving initial reports of 450 feet per second - lots of young kids following the flight all around the world would have thought that was accurate - not to mention the media who we all know print amazing inaccurate things about aviation!!!. Things like that should be proof read before being posted.... Fortunately, it has been corrected now.
Are we going to get to see some launch pictures??? please...
Thanks for all the great reports you gave us. Would have loved to be there too.
I was a little disappointed at the web site giving initial reports of 450 feet per second - lots of young kids following the flight all around the world would have thought that was accurate - not to mention the media who we all know print amazing inaccurate things about aviation!!!. Things like that should be proof read before being posted.... Fortunately, it has been corrected now.
Are we going to get to see some launch pictures??? please...
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might inspire more interest if
From the point of view of really interesting more the vast throng of superficially interested observers:
a. perhaps if the posn reports were also given in relation to some nearby well-known ground feature (e.g 30 nautical miles SW of Santiago Chile). Raw Lat and Long isn't going to send anyone scurrying for their plotting charts and instruments.
b. Heights also given in feet, speed in knots
c. Distance covered ALSO as an (albeit rough) percentage of the total distance required for his planned splashdown.
Fosset's put a lot of resources and effort into this and obviously he has sponsors. Possibly they're not seeing the wood for the trees as far as inciting real public interest goes.
a. perhaps if the posn reports were also given in relation to some nearby well-known ground feature (e.g 30 nautical miles SW of Santiago Chile). Raw Lat and Long isn't going to send anyone scurrying for their plotting charts and instruments.
b. Heights also given in feet, speed in knots
c. Distance covered ALSO as an (albeit rough) percentage of the total distance required for his planned splashdown.
Fosset's put a lot of resources and effort into this and obviously he has sponsors. Possibly they're not seeing the wood for the trees as far as inciting real public interest goes.
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After around 10 hours at low level - down to 400 ft and averaging 900 ft - tracking about 150 at 20-ish knots, Steve is now back up at 20+ thousand and resuming an easterly track. 
From the meteorologists' reports it seems that the faster wind belt ("jet stream" from the publicity people but not meteorologically accurate) split in two parts and the bit he was in was likely to take him close to thunderstorms. It was thunderstorms that caused a premature end to his last two attempts, including the rapid descent into the Coral Sea 4 years ago when he had launched from Mendoza in Argentina.
The solution was to drop down to seriously low level and either 'park' the balloon until the better strong wind aloft was overhead, or to move further south under the other fork.
Anyway, he is now back up at height and resuming his intended course.
I'm intrigued that this time he is going so far south - even allowing for the fact that it is the middle of winter so all the pressure systems are approaching their farthest south. Last time, Steve spent a lot of time around 25 south, and had most northerly points around 18 south. This compares with a latitude range between about 25 north and 10 north for Piccard and Jones in their successful 1999 northern-hemisphere flight (though that was in March, at the end of the season).
It's also notable that he has changed his chief meteorologist for this attempt, using Piccard & Jones's man, the Belgian Luc Trullemans instead of his previous choice of Bob Rice from the USA.
Let's hope they are successful this time - but at least he will be on the home stretch at 75 east before our mates at AUSSAR will again be on watch for him.
He also gave Australian balloonists a good showing - directly over Mildura on Thursday afternoon, very close to Canberra on Thusday night - and spectacular to behold!
Wombat
(very relieved the launch delay was just that - it allowed a civilised launch time!)
From the meteorologists' reports it seems that the faster wind belt ("jet stream" from the publicity people but not meteorologically accurate) split in two parts and the bit he was in was likely to take him close to thunderstorms. It was thunderstorms that caused a premature end to his last two attempts, including the rapid descent into the Coral Sea 4 years ago when he had launched from Mendoza in Argentina.
The solution was to drop down to seriously low level and either 'park' the balloon until the better strong wind aloft was overhead, or to move further south under the other fork.
Anyway, he is now back up at height and resuming his intended course.
I'm intrigued that this time he is going so far south - even allowing for the fact that it is the middle of winter so all the pressure systems are approaching their farthest south. Last time, Steve spent a lot of time around 25 south, and had most northerly points around 18 south. This compares with a latitude range between about 25 north and 10 north for Piccard and Jones in their successful 1999 northern-hemisphere flight (though that was in March, at the end of the season).
It's also notable that he has changed his chief meteorologist for this attempt, using Piccard & Jones's man, the Belgian Luc Trullemans instead of his previous choice of Bob Rice from the USA.
Let's hope they are successful this time - but at least he will be on the home stretch at 75 east before our mates at AUSSAR will again be on watch for him.
He also gave Australian balloonists a good showing - directly over Mildura on Thursday afternoon, very close to Canberra on Thusday night - and spectacular to behold!
Wombat
(very relieved the launch delay was just that - it allowed a civilised launch time!)
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Fris B....
To answer your question the best way I can.
When the propane tank is attached to the gondola, although the gas comes out of the top of the tank for use by the burner, it also has a rubber hose attached to the bottom of the tank. This bit is not my area, but I believe when the tank is empty, Steve causes the plate on the bottom of the tank to open, some water is entered so when it hits the water it fills up with seawater so it can merrily sink to the bottom out of harms way.
Sorry, not my area. This is how it was explained to me.
To answer your question the best way I can.
When the propane tank is attached to the gondola, although the gas comes out of the top of the tank for use by the burner, it also has a rubber hose attached to the bottom of the tank. This bit is not my area, but I believe when the tank is empty, Steve causes the plate on the bottom of the tank to open, some water is entered so when it hits the water it fills up with seawater so it can merrily sink to the bottom out of harms way.
Sorry, not my area. This is how it was explained to me.
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Current Telemetry
2002-06-23
10:43:19 UTC
Latitude 46° 1.56' S
Longitude 141° 18.59' W
Altitude 24500 ft
Speed 34.7 mi/hr
Heading 92.4°
Distance 5752.6 mi
Duration 4 d 09:06:19
28% Complete
Hope this suits better...
NEWS RELEASE
6/23/2002
"...as low as 400 feet at times. Perilously close to the water." Fossett on Razor Thin Margin of Error In Day of Drama
PAPEETE, TAHITI, June 23: Steve Fossett has been through what he described as “the most crucial day” so far in his solo round the world balloon bid.
Speaking by satellite telephone from Bud Light Spirit of Freedom, Fossett said that at one stage during the day he was aiming just to make it to South America safely but completing the circumnavigation looked to be impossible.
Fossett, in consultation with the meteorologists at Mission Control, had decided to take the balloon down from above 20,000 feet to 900 feet. This was to slow the balloon down, steer it away from unfavorable weather and to try to position him for a later ascent to again capture a fast jet stream and put the mission back on track.
“If I had stayed high I would have been in a random weather pattern with slow winds to South America and then a random pattern when we got there. That was not where we wanted to be,” Fossett said
“If this strategy works, I should be back in fast winds again and good for the trip the rest of the way round.”
He said he hadn’t had to vent much helium for the descent in Bud Light Spirit of Freedom as he’d managed to put the balloon into clouds, which kept it cool and minimized that action.
However, the clouds at low altitudes contained periodic rain squalls which hit the balloon with severe downdrafts, taking it as low as 400 feet at times. Perilously close to the water. This produced a day of high tension and drama.
Fossett had to use all three gas burners when the downdrafts hit to stop from being forced down into the Pacific Ocean some 2500 kilometres east of New Zealand. He normally only activates two burners to push the balloon higher.
“The margin for error was razor thin,” Fossett said when discussing the high-stress day he’d endured.
“I couldn’t sleep. Although I have warning alarms, I was worried that my reaction time when a rain squall and downdraft hit would not be quick enough. So I only had two hours’ sleep last night, none today and the ascent back up to catch the jet stream will take half of tonight, so I’m anxious to get some sleep.”
He said the ascent should be fuss free, as once the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom got momentum he expected it should rise back to over 20,000 feet quite rapidly.
He said the day’s events, which had slowed him to about 32 kilometres per hour, meant he had lost at least a day on his previous fast timetable. But with the new trajectory predicted at higher altitude, he expected to pass over Santiago, Chile when he reaches the South American coast on June 26.
for every one. Coming up to the 30% mark.
2002-06-23
10:43:19 UTC
Latitude 46° 1.56' S
Longitude 141° 18.59' W
Altitude 24500 ft
Speed 34.7 mi/hr
Heading 92.4°
Distance 5752.6 mi
Duration 4 d 09:06:19
28% Complete
Hope this suits better...
NEWS RELEASE
6/23/2002
"...as low as 400 feet at times. Perilously close to the water." Fossett on Razor Thin Margin of Error In Day of Drama
PAPEETE, TAHITI, June 23: Steve Fossett has been through what he described as “the most crucial day” so far in his solo round the world balloon bid.
Speaking by satellite telephone from Bud Light Spirit of Freedom, Fossett said that at one stage during the day he was aiming just to make it to South America safely but completing the circumnavigation looked to be impossible.
Fossett, in consultation with the meteorologists at Mission Control, had decided to take the balloon down from above 20,000 feet to 900 feet. This was to slow the balloon down, steer it away from unfavorable weather and to try to position him for a later ascent to again capture a fast jet stream and put the mission back on track.
“If I had stayed high I would have been in a random weather pattern with slow winds to South America and then a random pattern when we got there. That was not where we wanted to be,” Fossett said
“If this strategy works, I should be back in fast winds again and good for the trip the rest of the way round.”
He said he hadn’t had to vent much helium for the descent in Bud Light Spirit of Freedom as he’d managed to put the balloon into clouds, which kept it cool and minimized that action.
However, the clouds at low altitudes contained periodic rain squalls which hit the balloon with severe downdrafts, taking it as low as 400 feet at times. Perilously close to the water. This produced a day of high tension and drama.
Fossett had to use all three gas burners when the downdrafts hit to stop from being forced down into the Pacific Ocean some 2500 kilometres east of New Zealand. He normally only activates two burners to push the balloon higher.
“The margin for error was razor thin,” Fossett said when discussing the high-stress day he’d endured.
“I couldn’t sleep. Although I have warning alarms, I was worried that my reaction time when a rain squall and downdraft hit would not be quick enough. So I only had two hours’ sleep last night, none today and the ascent back up to catch the jet stream will take half of tonight, so I’m anxious to get some sleep.”
He said the ascent should be fuss free, as once the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom got momentum he expected it should rise back to over 20,000 feet quite rapidly.
He said the day’s events, which had slowed him to about 32 kilometres per hour, meant he had lost at least a day on his previous fast timetable. But with the new trajectory predicted at higher altitude, he expected to pass over Santiago, Chile when he reaches the South American coast on June 26.
for every one. Coming up to the 30% mark.
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Riding the Winds
ST.LOUIS, MO, JUNE 23,2002 6:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 23,2002 23:00 UTC)-- Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is now sailing at an altitude of 26,700 feet (8,168.6 m), when just a day ago it was hovering at only 400 feet (122 m) above sea level. Fossett has been constantly adjusting his altitude for the past 12 hours in attempt to catch the best winds. Currently, Fossett is gliding directly south of a very powerful cyclone system that he avoided yesterday by dropping drastically in altitude. He is now hoping to ride the tail winds from that system farther southeast to catch the next jet stream that will guide him to the western coast of Chile. It is estimated that Fossett will reach Chile sometime on Wednesday, June 26 (CDT).
The current winds should carry Bud Light Spirit of Freedom southeast for the next few hours and then should start to push the balloon straight east. Eventually, Fossett will be guided by this same jet stream far north to northeast, which will help him avoid colliding with yet another cyclone weather pattern that is hovering the Pacific.
David Dehenauw, one of the meteorologists, says that the balloon must stay at an altitude of at least 26,246 feet (8,000 m) in order to be guided by this jet stream that will maneuver the balloon up and around the next storm and bring it to the coast of Chile. Staying at this altitude today has not been a problem because of the sun's solaring effects. These effects take place when the sun heats the helium and air inside, causing the balloon to climb higher. Bud Light Spirit of Freedom managed to climb more than 3,000 feet (914.4 m) due to solaring alone earlier this afternoon.
Steve Fossett is finally getting a bit of rest after his first real threat of his attempt to circumnavigate the globe. He needs this rest to prepare himself for the rest of the ride over the Pacific, as he will have yet another storm to face before he can cross over the western coast of Chile.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is now at 47 degrees south latitude and 133 degrees west longitude. The balloon is gliding at a speed of 38.7 miles per hour (62.2 km/hr). Even though this speed is rather slow, it is more important for the mission to stay on this course. Currently Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has been in flight for 4 days, 20 hours and 26 minutes and has traveled 6,1929.6 miles (9,864.4 km).
ST.LOUIS, MO, JUNE 23,2002 6:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 23,2002 23:00 UTC)-- Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is now sailing at an altitude of 26,700 feet (8,168.6 m), when just a day ago it was hovering at only 400 feet (122 m) above sea level. Fossett has been constantly adjusting his altitude for the past 12 hours in attempt to catch the best winds. Currently, Fossett is gliding directly south of a very powerful cyclone system that he avoided yesterday by dropping drastically in altitude. He is now hoping to ride the tail winds from that system farther southeast to catch the next jet stream that will guide him to the western coast of Chile. It is estimated that Fossett will reach Chile sometime on Wednesday, June 26 (CDT).
The current winds should carry Bud Light Spirit of Freedom southeast for the next few hours and then should start to push the balloon straight east. Eventually, Fossett will be guided by this same jet stream far north to northeast, which will help him avoid colliding with yet another cyclone weather pattern that is hovering the Pacific.
David Dehenauw, one of the meteorologists, says that the balloon must stay at an altitude of at least 26,246 feet (8,000 m) in order to be guided by this jet stream that will maneuver the balloon up and around the next storm and bring it to the coast of Chile. Staying at this altitude today has not been a problem because of the sun's solaring effects. These effects take place when the sun heats the helium and air inside, causing the balloon to climb higher. Bud Light Spirit of Freedom managed to climb more than 3,000 feet (914.4 m) due to solaring alone earlier this afternoon.
Steve Fossett is finally getting a bit of rest after his first real threat of his attempt to circumnavigate the globe. He needs this rest to prepare himself for the rest of the ride over the Pacific, as he will have yet another storm to face before he can cross over the western coast of Chile.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is now at 47 degrees south latitude and 133 degrees west longitude. The balloon is gliding at a speed of 38.7 miles per hour (62.2 km/hr). Even though this speed is rather slow, it is more important for the mission to stay on this course. Currently Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has been in flight for 4 days, 20 hours and 26 minutes and has traveled 6,1929.6 miles (9,864.4 km).
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Quick Actions Prevent Possible Catastrophe
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 23, 2002, 9:30 p.m. CDT (JUNE 24, 2002, 02:30
UTC) - -As nighttime approaches, Steve Fossett in Bud Light Spirit of
Freedom must turn on its burners to keep the balloon flying at its current
altitude, since the sun's solar heating effects no longer take place. A
short while ago, mission control received this email from Fossett
describing a possible mission-ending catastrophe concerning his burners:
"Just as I started up the burners after the daytime solar float, the #1
burner seized open. At full burn it would only be a minute before the
balloon rockets through its ceiling. I turned off the valves and started
organizing tools and parts to replace the seized solenoid. Then I thought,
it's probably frozen. Perhaps these chemical heating pouches for the MRE's
would warm it up enough. I put some water in one to start the chemical
reaction producing the heat, then taped it around the solenoid. It thawed
and a parts replacement operation was saved, for now.
Steve Fossett
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom"
At approximately 7:30 p.m. CDT, a burner valve that had been opened, froze
over and was producing a continuous flame that was causing too much heat in
the balloon. If not fixed, the balloon could fly above its current ceiling
of 26,700 feet, and potentially burst, causing Fossett to plummet down
towards the ocean.
Fossett acted quickly and ventured outside of the capsule to see what was
wrong with the burner. He discovered it was frozen, and shut off the fuel
valve to the burner. Then he placed the chemical heating pouches, typically
used to heat his meals, over the valve to defrost it. Fossett's quick
action saved the balloon from a potentially serious situation.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 23, 2002, 9:30 p.m. CDT (JUNE 24, 2002, 02:30
UTC) - -As nighttime approaches, Steve Fossett in Bud Light Spirit of
Freedom must turn on its burners to keep the balloon flying at its current
altitude, since the sun's solar heating effects no longer take place. A
short while ago, mission control received this email from Fossett
describing a possible mission-ending catastrophe concerning his burners:
"Just as I started up the burners after the daytime solar float, the #1
burner seized open. At full burn it would only be a minute before the
balloon rockets through its ceiling. I turned off the valves and started
organizing tools and parts to replace the seized solenoid. Then I thought,
it's probably frozen. Perhaps these chemical heating pouches for the MRE's
would warm it up enough. I put some water in one to start the chemical
reaction producing the heat, then taped it around the solenoid. It thawed
and a parts replacement operation was saved, for now.
Steve Fossett
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom"
At approximately 7:30 p.m. CDT, a burner valve that had been opened, froze
over and was producing a continuous flame that was causing too much heat in
the balloon. If not fixed, the balloon could fly above its current ceiling
of 26,700 feet, and potentially burst, causing Fossett to plummet down
towards the ocean.
Fossett acted quickly and ventured outside of the capsule to see what was
wrong with the burner. He discovered it was frozen, and shut off the fuel
valve to the burner. Then he placed the chemical heating pouches, typically
used to heat his meals, over the valve to defrost it. Fossett's quick
action saved the balloon from a potentially serious situation.
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Pom Pax.
To try and explain....Yes and Yes.
As I said in an earlier post, because of the delay, the helium did not have the customary hour of settle time so we wanted to get as much into the canopy so as the balloon would rise of its own accord.
In saying that, if you saw from where you were, the gondola complete with its hanging gas bottles was sat on timber boards on the ground. It started to move easterley as the weight was being lessened from lift over weight and going with the wind.
We then decided enough helium was in the canopy, when a decision to pull the ropes on the gas tubes,after the helium was turned off, simultanously the extra ballast sandbags, which are now my daughters doorstops, were released, and a quick shot from the first burner, as the pilot was running for some time and a trickle of heat on the helium gave Steve the lift needed to go.
The other consideration was that the gondola had now moved to the end of the timber was was going to drag out over the ground and was heading for the gas trailers. By this stage all our weight could not hold back the obvious, so it was good to go.
I hope this helps.
Steve was good to everyone and was thankful for all the help people gave to him, but a more focussed man you would not meet. He wanted so bad to go. The wind was a mere inconvenience.
To try and explain....Yes and Yes.
As I said in an earlier post, because of the delay, the helium did not have the customary hour of settle time so we wanted to get as much into the canopy so as the balloon would rise of its own accord.
In saying that, if you saw from where you were, the gondola complete with its hanging gas bottles was sat on timber boards on the ground. It started to move easterley as the weight was being lessened from lift over weight and going with the wind.
We then decided enough helium was in the canopy, when a decision to pull the ropes on the gas tubes,after the helium was turned off, simultanously the extra ballast sandbags, which are now my daughters doorstops, were released, and a quick shot from the first burner, as the pilot was running for some time and a trickle of heat on the helium gave Steve the lift needed to go.
The other consideration was that the gondola had now moved to the end of the timber was was going to drag out over the ground and was heading for the gas trailers. By this stage all our weight could not hold back the obvious, so it was good to go.
I hope this helps.
Steve was good to everyone and was thankful for all the help people gave to him, but a more focussed man you would not meet. He wanted so bad to go. The wind was a mere inconvenience.
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Playing the Waiting Game
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 24, 2002, 2:00 a.m. CDT (JUNE 24, 2002, 07:00
UTC) - - Life in the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom seems to be calming down
for Steve. He has reported no further problems with the burner he repaired
hours ago, and now he is just waiting for the faster winds the Meteorology
team anticipates to come in the next two days. The weather pattern he is in
now is expected to lead him into a jet stream that will take him more south
before eventually leading him to the north for his approach to South
America.
Currently, the balloon's coordinates are 49 degrees south latitude and 129
degrees west longitude. The balloon is flying at a speed of 31.8 miles per
hour (54.9 kilometers per hour) at an altitude of 22,500 feet (6,858
meters). Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has now flown 6,371.7 miles (10,307.9
kilometers).
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 24, 2002, 2:00 a.m. CDT (JUNE 24, 2002, 07:00
UTC) - - Life in the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom seems to be calming down
for Steve. He has reported no further problems with the burner he repaired
hours ago, and now he is just waiting for the faster winds the Meteorology
team anticipates to come in the next two days. The weather pattern he is in
now is expected to lead him into a jet stream that will take him more south
before eventually leading him to the north for his approach to South
America.
Currently, the balloon's coordinates are 49 degrees south latitude and 129
degrees west longitude. The balloon is flying at a speed of 31.8 miles per
hour (54.9 kilometers per hour) at an altitude of 22,500 feet (6,858
meters). Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has now flown 6,371.7 miles (10,307.9
kilometers).
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We are now into the tricky weather, here is the latest update..Mission Control Completed, Chile on the Horizon
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 24, 2002, 6:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 24, 2002, 23:00
UTC
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has officially left New Zealand air space and
is cruising quickly toward South America. Thanks go out to the New Zealand
Air Traffic Control offices in Auckland and Christchurch, that helped
Mission Control to monitor Steve through his safe passage. With Steve at a
healthy distance, the country's Air Force will be conducting missile tests
in the South Pacific today.
After a taxing couple of days, including thunderstorm scares and impromptu
repairs of equipment, Steve has been accelerating back into the jet stream.
He is flying with a slight southerly bearing in the tranquil airs of a
high-pressure anticyclone. It will not be long until a sharp northward
turn must be negotiated to bear the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon
around another dangerous low-pressure zone. Chances of thunderstorms
exist, but peril should be at a controlled minimum with Steve flying away
from the system's center and very high (approximately 26,000 feet or 7900
meters). This storm-avoiding track will mean a minor reduction in speed,
however, Steve's safety is the first priority.
Project Manager Tim Cole has finally arrived at Mission Control from
Australia, where he was on site to oversee the launch. His wealth of
ballooning experience brings a comprehensive knowledge about the flight to
the operations.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is presently tracking at 52 degrees south
latitude and 110 degrees west longitude. Soaring at 26,000 feet (7900
meters) and 71 miles per hour (115 km per hour), the arrival over the
Chilean coast is currently projected for Wednesday, June 26 at 13:30 UTC at
85 miles southwest of Concepcion.
...........................................
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 24, 2002, 6:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 24, 2002, 23:00
UTC
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has officially left New Zealand air space and
is cruising quickly toward South America. Thanks go out to the New Zealand
Air Traffic Control offices in Auckland and Christchurch, that helped
Mission Control to monitor Steve through his safe passage. With Steve at a
healthy distance, the country's Air Force will be conducting missile tests
in the South Pacific today.
After a taxing couple of days, including thunderstorm scares and impromptu
repairs of equipment, Steve has been accelerating back into the jet stream.
He is flying with a slight southerly bearing in the tranquil airs of a
high-pressure anticyclone. It will not be long until a sharp northward
turn must be negotiated to bear the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon
around another dangerous low-pressure zone. Chances of thunderstorms
exist, but peril should be at a controlled minimum with Steve flying away
from the system's center and very high (approximately 26,000 feet or 7900
meters). This storm-avoiding track will mean a minor reduction in speed,
however, Steve's safety is the first priority.
Project Manager Tim Cole has finally arrived at Mission Control from
Australia, where he was on site to oversee the launch. His wealth of
ballooning experience brings a comprehensive knowledge about the flight to
the operations.
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is presently tracking at 52 degrees south
latitude and 110 degrees west longitude. Soaring at 26,000 feet (7900
meters) and 71 miles per hour (115 km per hour), the arrival over the
Chilean coast is currently projected for Wednesday, June 26 at 13:30 UTC at
85 miles southwest of Concepcion.
...........................................
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Switch to Atlantic Transmission Intermediary
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 24, 2002, 8:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 25, 2002, 01:00
UTC)
Steve Fossett has been riding the jet stream at 26,000 feet (7900 meters)
for many hours, which is very close to his maximum ceiling. While gaining
speed since the last update, he has switched from a Pacific data
transmitting system to an Atlantic intermediary. Mission Control received
the first communication from Bud Light Spirit of Freedom via the new source
just moments ago. Fossett is currently at 51 degrees south latitude and
104 degrees west longitude. Heading almost due east at 73 miles per hour
(118 km per hour), he is now 38% finished with his circumnavigation. Bud
Light Spirit of Freedom has now flown 7,466 miles (12,015 km).
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 24, 2002, 8:00 p.m. CDT (JUNE 25, 2002, 01:00
UTC)
Steve Fossett has been riding the jet stream at 26,000 feet (7900 meters)
for many hours, which is very close to his maximum ceiling. While gaining
speed since the last update, he has switched from a Pacific data
transmitting system to an Atlantic intermediary. Mission Control received
the first communication from Bud Light Spirit of Freedom via the new source
just moments ago. Fossett is currently at 51 degrees south latitude and
104 degrees west longitude. Heading almost due east at 73 miles per hour
(118 km per hour), he is now 38% finished with his circumnavigation. Bud
Light Spirit of Freedom has now flown 7,466 miles (12,015 km).
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Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is cruising high and to the north to avoid thunderstorms in the South Pacific
Current Telemetry
2002-06-25
03:52:53 UTC
Latitude 51° 26.77' S
Longitude 99° 54.23' W
Altitude 7924.8 m
Speed 107.7 km/hr
Heading 75.4°
Distance 12338.9 km
Duration 6 d 02:15:53
39% Complete
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is cruising high and to the north to avoid thunderstorms in the South Pacific
Current Telemetry
2002-06-25
03:52:53 UTC
Latitude 51° 26.77' S
Longitude 99° 54.23' W
Altitude 7924.8 m
Speed 107.7 km/hr
Heading 75.4°
Distance 12338.9 km
Duration 6 d 02:15:53
39% Complete
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EASTER ISLAND, CHILE, JUNE 24: World media are awaiting more pictures of the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon and solo pilot Steve Fossett as he approaches South America, with the crossing of the Chilean coast currently scheduled for Wednesday morning, June 26 (U.S. time).
A few hours later, he will face the biggest geographic land feature of his circumnavigation as the balloon has to cross over the Andes Mountains. On the current southern track, Fossett will cross peaks as high as 7000-8000 feet, whereas further north near Santiago, the snow capped ranges present a much higher obstacle.
There has been a virtual media-images blackout of Bud Light Spirit of Freedom since Fossett left Australia and was intercepted over the Tasman Sea by his Cessna Citation X chase plane last week, which flew out of Sydney. That intercept captured air-to-air press stills and broadcast video. The pictures were then fed to the world's media from Auckland, New Zealand. The coverage included a video interview with Steve Fossett beamed live from cameras onboard the balloon's capsule back to the chase plane.
Fossett traversed both coasts of New Zealand at night, which precluded a further chase plane intercept before he set off on the longest and loneliest leg of his solo voyage – the crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
The chase plane flew on from New Zealand, 2,209 nautical miles to Tahiti, but by then Bud Light Spirit of Freedom was tracking south of the French Polynesian island at low altitude, in cloud and rain squalls and again no midair intercept was possible.
The aircraft then made a 2292-nautical-miles hop onto an Easter Island stopover to await Fossett's successful crossing of the Pacific and to plan for the next intercept (over Chile).
Satellite phone and internet communications from the isolation of Easter Island have proved extremely difficult. This has allowed limited transmission of press pictures to Mission Control in St. Louis for posting on the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom mission website. Therefore, few images have been made available to the free global media pool.
It appeared at one stage that Steve Fossett's balloon may cross South America at night. This would have again precluded the opportunity for a chase plane intercept. But his current airspeed and trajectory have him set for a daytime crossing, making it possible for press photos and video to be made available.
After extensive discussions today between Citation X captain Pierre d'Avenas and Mission Control, the present plan is for the chase plane crew to leave Easter Island tomorrow morning (Tuesday) and fly 1925 nautical miles to Concepcion, on the Chilean coast. This should allow the plane to get as close as possible to the balloon's current projected entry point into South American skies for the Wednesday intercept.
If weather conditions allow, plans call for media stills, broadcast video, and a midair interview with Fossett over the Andes. In the case of bad weather, the chase plane intercept will occur as the balloon crosses the west coast of South America. The Citation X will then fly back to the Chilean capital, Santiago, to have the pictures beamed out for media.
A few hours later, he will face the biggest geographic land feature of his circumnavigation as the balloon has to cross over the Andes Mountains. On the current southern track, Fossett will cross peaks as high as 7000-8000 feet, whereas further north near Santiago, the snow capped ranges present a much higher obstacle.
There has been a virtual media-images blackout of Bud Light Spirit of Freedom since Fossett left Australia and was intercepted over the Tasman Sea by his Cessna Citation X chase plane last week, which flew out of Sydney. That intercept captured air-to-air press stills and broadcast video. The pictures were then fed to the world's media from Auckland, New Zealand. The coverage included a video interview with Steve Fossett beamed live from cameras onboard the balloon's capsule back to the chase plane.
Fossett traversed both coasts of New Zealand at night, which precluded a further chase plane intercept before he set off on the longest and loneliest leg of his solo voyage – the crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
The chase plane flew on from New Zealand, 2,209 nautical miles to Tahiti, but by then Bud Light Spirit of Freedom was tracking south of the French Polynesian island at low altitude, in cloud and rain squalls and again no midair intercept was possible.
The aircraft then made a 2292-nautical-miles hop onto an Easter Island stopover to await Fossett's successful crossing of the Pacific and to plan for the next intercept (over Chile).
Satellite phone and internet communications from the isolation of Easter Island have proved extremely difficult. This has allowed limited transmission of press pictures to Mission Control in St. Louis for posting on the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom mission website. Therefore, few images have been made available to the free global media pool.
It appeared at one stage that Steve Fossett's balloon may cross South America at night. This would have again precluded the opportunity for a chase plane intercept. But his current airspeed and trajectory have him set for a daytime crossing, making it possible for press photos and video to be made available.
After extensive discussions today between Citation X captain Pierre d'Avenas and Mission Control, the present plan is for the chase plane crew to leave Easter Island tomorrow morning (Tuesday) and fly 1925 nautical miles to Concepcion, on the Chilean coast. This should allow the plane to get as close as possible to the balloon's current projected entry point into South American skies for the Wednesday intercept.
If weather conditions allow, plans call for media stills, broadcast video, and a midair interview with Fossett over the Andes. In the case of bad weather, the chase plane intercept will occur as the balloon crosses the west coast of South America. The Citation X will then fly back to the Chilean capital, Santiago, to have the pictures beamed out for media.
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North As Predicted
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 25, 2002, 2:00 a.m. CDT (JUNE 25, 2002, 07:00
UTC) - - Currently, Steve Fossett in the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom
balloon is attempting to maneuver through the pitch black skies of the
Pacific Ocean to stay on track with the jet stream that should carry him
north of a brewing low pressure system to his east. Recently, Fossett's
heading has begun to turn in the predicted direction, causing the balloon
to make a turn to the north. Fossett will continue north until clear of the
weather system before finally turning east again to bring Bud Light Spirit
of Freedom over the Western Coast of Chile.
According to the most recent position report, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom
is located at 50 degrees south latitude and 97 degrees west longitude. The
balloon is flying at a speed of 47.6 miles per hour (76.6 kilometers per
hour) at an altitude of 22,500 feet (6,858 meters) and its heading is 76
degrees.
coming up for the half way mark
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 25, 2002, 2:00 a.m. CDT (JUNE 25, 2002, 07:00
UTC) - - Currently, Steve Fossett in the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom
balloon is attempting to maneuver through the pitch black skies of the
Pacific Ocean to stay on track with the jet stream that should carry him
north of a brewing low pressure system to his east. Recently, Fossett's
heading has begun to turn in the predicted direction, causing the balloon
to make a turn to the north. Fossett will continue north until clear of the
weather system before finally turning east again to bring Bud Light Spirit
of Freedom over the Western Coast of Chile.
According to the most recent position report, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom
is located at 50 degrees south latitude and 97 degrees west longitude. The
balloon is flying at a speed of 47.6 miles per hour (76.6 kilometers per
hour) at an altitude of 22,500 feet (6,858 meters) and its heading is 76
degrees.
coming up for the half way mark
I don't want to be the best pilot in the world - Just the oldest
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Elevator,
Thanks for the regular updates mate. You're a Legend!
Having been within spitting distance of Steve at the time of liftoff I suppose I feel a personal affinity with his attempt. Well after all, I did help move one of the air blowers during the inflation.
Hard to believe that he has been couped up in what is not much larger than a 747 dunny for a week now.
We now need to come up with a contingency to retrieve the PPRUNE badge when he lands east of the 116deg 40.9 meridian. Or at least get a photo.
GO STEVE!
Thanks for the regular updates mate. You're a Legend!
Having been within spitting distance of Steve at the time of liftoff I suppose I feel a personal affinity with his attempt. Well after all, I did help move one of the air blowers during the inflation.
Hard to believe that he has been couped up in what is not much larger than a 747 dunny for a week now.
We now need to come up with a contingency to retrieve the PPRUNE badge when he lands east of the 116deg 40.9 meridian. Or at least get a photo.
GO STEVE!
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Steve is going through some pretty critical times at present. I'll come back soon with some more news.
Thanks, IJ for your support. T'was a great moment at Northam, and thanks for your company at liftoff.
With all the drama with icing for steve and changes of direction, it will be interesting, to say the least.
Thanks, IJ for your support. T'was a great moment at Northam, and thanks for your company at liftoff.
With all the drama with icing for steve and changes of direction, it will be interesting, to say the least.