First Nonstop Flight Around The World by Balloon Date of Milestone: March 21, 1999 Vehicle: Breitling Orbiter 3 Gondola Manufacturer: Cameron Balloons, Bristol, England, 1998

Artifact Location: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery

On March 1, 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones lifted off from the Swiss alpine village of Chateau d?Oex in the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon. On March 21, 1999?19 days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes later?they landed in the Egyptian desert after traveling 45,755 kilometers (28,431 miles) and completing the first nonstop flight around the world in a balloon.

The success of Breitling Orbiter 3 was built upon two previous attempts: Breitling Orbiter in 1997 and Breitling Orbiter 2 in 1998. Those experiences enabled the Breitling team to develop trustworthy technical systems and a basic strategy in which Piccard and Jones would pilot their balloon up to altitudes of 11,000 meters (36,000 feet) and to where jet stream winds would drive it across the Pacific at up to 176 kilometers (105 miles) per hour.

Support for this exhibit was provided by Breitling SA and Federal Express Corporation.

Design Features:

Construction: The gondola is made of Kevlar and carbon fiber material. Cabin air: After takeoff the gondola was pressurized with a nitrogen-oxygen mixture to reduce the risk of fire. Enough reserves were carried to repressurize the gondola four times. Pressurization: Cabin pressure dropped as the balloon climbed. At 10,000 meters (33,000 feet), the cabin pressure equaled the atmospheric pressure at 3,000 meters (10,000 feet). Temperature: Burners maintained the cabin temperature at 15 °C (59 °F). Solar panels: Solar panels beneath the gondola recharged the onboard lead batteries that provided electrical power. Instrumentation: The forward cockpit contains the controls and instruments needed to monitor and operate the aircraft and systems. The crew used satellite-based systems to communicate and navigate. Accommodations: The central part of the cabin contains a single bunk and storage area. An ingenious pressure-operated toilet is screened off with a curtain at the rear of the craft.

Gondola:

Length: 5.4 m (17 ft 10 in) Height: 3.1 m (10 ft 3 in) Weight, empty: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) Fuel: Propane