Fossett’s 4th Global Balloon Bid Begins
An American adventurer soared away beneath a full moon Friday, beginning for the fourth time a quest to be the first man to circle Earth in a balloon.
Steve Fossett climbed into his silvery Solo Spirit and waved to hundreds of cheering spectators who had gathered at the launch site, an open-air soccer stadium.
Fossett, a 54-year-old Chicago stockbroker who has sailed solo across the Pacific, turned the burners to a roar as his 150-foot-tall balloon shot away from the ground, quickly disappearing into the sky.
His ground crew uncorked champagne bottles and cheered.
Fossett plans to travel from west to east around the Southern Hemisphere in 14 to 18 days, mostly over oceans.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
