Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • Collections
      • Open Access
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • EEO & Small Business
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Program
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

Capsule, Balloon

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Owner
Steve Fossett
Physical Description
The cabin is square with rounded corners, a bubble hatch on top, with propane burners; it is decorated with various logos and names.
Summary
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Capsule
First Solo Flight Around the World by Balloon
Steve Fossett, an adventurous, Chicago-based aviator, launched the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon from Northam, Australia, on June 19, 2002. Fourteen days and 19 hours later, on July 4, he landed in Queensland, Australia, to become the first person to make a solo flight around the world in a balloon. During the trip he traveled 32,963 kilometers (20,385 miles), reached speeds of up to 322 kilometers (204 miles) per hour, and flew as high as 10,580 meters (34,700 feet).
The Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon was a combination helium and hot-air design called a Roziere, in honor of Pilâtre de Rozier, who made the first manned balloon flight in 1783. It was designed by Donald Cameron of Cameron Balloons Ltd. of Bristol, England. Thirty-eight tanks of propane and ethane fuel hanging beside the capsule fed the burners on top, which heated the air which in turn warmed the helium to increase lift. Fossett steered the balloon by ascending or descending to find a wind blowing in the right direction. The balloon was fitted with the Comstock Autopilot, which automatically fired the burners to maintain a constant altitude and to allow Fossett to sleep.
Tim Cole, Project Manager for the flight, designed and built the gondola, an unpressurized cube constructed of a lightweight composite of Kevlar and carbon, with a plastic bubble hatch on top. Lithium batteries powered the electronic equipment. A custom designed heater kept the temperature inside the capsule at 4-21 C (40-70 F).
The satellite-based Global Positioning System provided the precise location of the balloon during the flight. Communication between Fossett and Mission Control at Washington University in St. Louis was by means of the Inmarsat C satellite system, with a satellite telephone as a backup. Fossett also had radios for communicating with air traffic controllers and with other aircraft. The gondola was equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Rescue Beacon (EPIRB) to assist search and rescue efforts.
Living in a space the size of a closet for over two weeks was not easy. For much of the flight Fossett cruised at over 8,000 meters (26,240 feet) and breathed oxygen from a liquid oxygen system. The gondola was equipped with a bench and a sleeping bag. Fossett averaged three hours of sleep a day, usually in the form of cat naps lasting 45 minutes or less. He ate military rations called MREs ("meals ready to eat"). The MRE's were heated with chemical heat packs, which were activated by adding water.
The flight was Fossett's sixth solo attempt since 1996 to achieve this extraordinarily difficult goal. On one of those flights, in August, 1998, he plunged 8900 meters (29,192 feet) into the Coral Sea when his balloon ruptured in a thunderstorm. He was rescued after 23 hours in a life raft.
In finally achieving his goal, Steve Fossett demonstrated perseverance, determination, courage, and great skill in the air. He expressed the hope that his success would inspire others to "try and achieve something important to them."
Gift of Steve Fossett.
Long Description
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Capsule
First Solo Flight Around the World by Balloon
Steve Fossett, an adventurous, Chicago-based aviator, launched the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon from Northam, Australia, on June 19, 2002. Fourteen days and 19 hours later, on July 4, he landed in Queensland, Australia, to become the first person to make a solo flight around the world in a balloon. During the trip he traveled 32,963 kilometers (20,385 miles), reached speeds of up to 322 kilometers (204 miles) per hour, and flew as high as 10,580 meters (34,700 feet).
The Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon was a combination helium and hot-air design called a Roziere, in honor of Pilâtre de Rozier, who made the first manned balloon flight in 1783. It was designed by Donald Cameron of Cameron Balloons Ltd. of Bristol, England. Thirty-eight tanks of propane and ethane fuel hanging beside the capsule fed the burners on top, which heated the air which in turn warmed the helium to increase lift. Fossett steered the balloon by ascending or descending to find a wind blowing in the right direction. The balloon was fitted with the Comstock Autopilot, which automatically fired the burners to maintain a constant altitude and to allow Fossett to sleep.
Tim Cole, Project Manager for the flight, designed and built the gondola, an unpressurized cube constructed of a lightweight composite of Kevlar and carbon, with a plastic bubble hatch on top. Lithium batteries powered the electronic equipment. A custom designed heater kept the temperature inside the capsule at 4-21 C (40-70 F).
The satellite-based Global Positioning System provided the precise location of the balloon during the flight. Communication between Fossett and Mission Control at Washington University in St. Louis was by means of the Inmarsat C satellite system, with a satellite telephone as a backup. Fossett also had radios for communicating with air traffic controllers and with other aircraft. The gondola was equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Rescue Beacon (EPIRB) to assist search and rescue efforts.
Living in a space the size of a closet for over two weeks was not easy. For much of the flight Fossett cruised at over 8,000 meters (26,240 feet) and breathed oxygen from a liquid oxygen system. The gondola was equipped with a bench and a sleeping bag. Fossett averaged three hours of sleep a day, usually in the form of cat naps lasting 45 minutes or less. He ate military rations called MREs ("meals ready to eat"). The MRE's were heated with chemical heat packs, which were activated by adding water.
The flight was Fossett's sixth solo attempt since 1996 to achieve this extraordinarily difficult goal. On one of those flights, in August, 1998, he plunged 8900 meters (29,192 feet) into the Coral Sea when his balloon ruptured in a thunderstorm. He was rescued after 23 hours in a life raft.
In finally achieving his goal, Steve Fossett demonstrated perseverance, determination, courage, and great skill in the air. He expressed the hope that his success would inspire others to "try and achieve something important to them."
Gift of Steve Fossett.
Alternate Name
Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Capsule
Key Accomplishment(s)
First Solo Around The World Balloon Flight
Brief Description
Steve Fossett became the first person to make a solo flight around the world in a balloon. He launched the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom from Northam, Australia, on June 19, 2002 and landed 14 days and 19 hours later, on July 4, in Queensland, Australia.
Credit Line
Gift of Steve Fossett.
Inventory Number
A20030128000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
CRAFT-Balloon
Materials
Fiberglass, plastic, metal
Dimensions
Approximate: 132 x 94 x 65in., 600lb. (335.28 x 238.76 x 165.1cm, 272.2kg)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A20030128000
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv99a7c8278-dca0-4d30-be93-67b2058b8e09

Related Content

  • Aircraft

    Air and Space Museum
  • Up, Up, and Away

Three quarter side view of yellow Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Capsule against a black background
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
Three quarter side view of yellow Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Capsule against a black background
Front view of yellow Bud Light Spirit of Freedom Capsule against a black background

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top