Balloonists to make forced landing

The "Global Hilton" lifts off

Helium leak aborts latest global challenge

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (CNN) -- A helium leak shortly after launch forced U.S. balloonists Dick Rutan and Dave Melton to abort their attempt to make aviation history with the first nonstop trip around the world.

It was not immediately clear where or when the balloonists would return to Earth, but ground controllers said the 170-foot (52-meter) "Global Hilton" was not in any immediate danger of crashing as it floated eastward.

It will be up to Rutan and Melton, who were in radio contact with the ground, to determine how and where they would land.

-- Watch the crew inside the balloon capsule soon after the launch -- 2 min. VXtreme video The bad quality of the video is from the source, which is the Global Hilton team.

1.5MB/15 sec./320x240 867K/15 sec./160x120 QuickTime movies

Despite climbing quickly after the 6:20 a.m. MST (8:20 a.m. EST) launch from Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, the balloon was visible to the naked eye as a speck in the sky above the New Mexico desert.

The problem with the Global Hilton -- a ruptured helium cell in the upper portion of the balloon -- was reported by the balloonists about an hour after liftoff.

The leak in the craft's "primary lift system" was reported when the balloon was 40 miles east of the launch site. At that point, the balloonists had risen to about 30,000 feet (9,140 meters).

Melton, left, and Rutan

Two other balloon teams also have failed in recent weeks to set the record.

The helium leak in the Global Hilton was similar to what led balloonist Kevin Uliassi to scrub his round-the-world attempt on New Year's Eve. He landed in Indiana after leaving a few hours earlier from Loves Park, Illinois.

Balloonist Steve Fossett, who lifted off from St. Louis a few hours earlier than Uliassi, was forced to land on Monday in southern Russia because of technical problems, low winds and a fuel shortage.

Crew preparing balloon for Friday's launch

Three European balloonists plan to launch soon from Switzerland, despite a delay caused by a mooring accident on Thursday.

Anheuser-Busch, a U.S.-based beer manufacturer, is offering $500,000 to the first person or team to circle the globe in a balloon, along with $500,000 to the charity of the winner's choice. The deadline is December 31, 1999.

Correspondent Jim Hill contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• U.S. balloonists forced down shortly after launch - January 9, 1998
• U.S. balloonists to launch early Friday - January 8, 1998
• Fossett ends round-the-world ballooning attempt - January 5, 1998
• Rip forces Uliassi to abort balloon flight - December 31, 1997
• Five teams poised for round-the-world balloon race - December 31, 1997

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• Budweiser Cup to Salute the 1st Successful Around the World Balloon Flight
• PBS's Nova Online Adventure: Global Contenders 97/98
• Richard Branson's Virgin Global Challenger
• Steve Fossett's SoloSpirit
• Dave Melton's Global Hilton
• Bertrand Piccard and Wim Verstraeten and Andy Elson's Breitling Orbiter
• Kevin Uliassi's J. Renee

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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