This year Fossett, 57, decided to launch in western Australia, some 600 km (400 miles) from the Indian Ocean, to have a better chance of avoiding thunderstorms in the South Pacific and gain time to detect problems while still over land.

• 现年57岁的福塞这次决定在距印度洋约600公里的澳大利亚西部点火，是为了尽量避免遇上来自南太平洋的暴风雨，也使得热气球还在陆地上空飞行时，他可以有时间对热气球进行检修。