PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP PHOTO US pilot Steve Fossett stands on the capsule of Bud Lite Spirit of Freedom balloon holding Australian and US flags shortly after landing in the Australian outback northeast of Birdsville, 04 July 2002, to successfully complete the first solo circumnavigation of the world by balloon.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP PHOTO US pilot Steve Fossett poses in front of his Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon shortly after touching down in the Australian outback northeast of Birdsville, 04 July 2002, to succesfully complete the first solo circumnavigation of the world by balloon. The 58-year-old Chicago tycoon made aviation history when on 02 July he crossed longitude 117 degrees east -- the line in western Australia that on June 19 was the starting point of his ambitious journey.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP PHOTO A frame grab from an onboard video shows US millionaire Steve Fossett contacting mission control from his "The Spirit of Freedom" balloon while flying over the outback town of Mildura, 20 June 2002, on the second day of his sixth attempt to solo circumnavigate the world. Fossett is expected to cross the east coast of Australia south of Sydney in the early hours of 21 June from where he will begin his journey over the Tasman Sea.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP PHOTO Steve Fossett does some pre flight checking aboard "Spirit of Freedom" prior to take off on his round the world attempt at Northam Western Australia 19 June 2002.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP PHOTO Steve Fossett's "Spirit of Freedom" balloon takes off on his round the world attempt at Northam Western Australia 19 June 2002.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP (FILES) This file photo dated 19 June 2002 shows Steve Fossett doing some pre-flight checking aboard his "Spirit of Freedom" balloon prior to take off on his round-the-world attempt from Northam, Western Australia. Fossett made aviation history 02 July 2002 when he completed the first solo round-the-world balloon flight by crossing the line of longitude (117 degrees east) from where he took off 19 June in Australia on his sixth attempt at one of aviation's last remaining great challenges.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP PHOTO Steve Fossett looks through the glass window of the "Spirit of Freedom" balloon hatch in Northam, 18 June 2002, one day ahead of its launch. American adventurer Steve Fossett's sixth attempt to fly solo around the world in a balloon was given the green light Monday for a 19 June launch.

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP American billionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, 57, waves goodbye as he sets off early 05 August 2001 from a site in Northam, a town 100 kms (60 miles) east of Perth, Australia, on his sixth attempt to orbit the globe alone in a balloon. His journey around the world is expected to ake 15 to 18 days. AFP PHOTO POOL GAMMA

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/AFP PHOTO US millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett sits next to the capsule of his Solo Spirit balloon in Northam, 100 kilometers (65 miles) east of Perth, 04 August 2001. Fossett, 57, is hoping the current weather pattern will hold, enabling his sixth bid for a solo round-the-world balloon flight, to start from the Western Australian wheatbelt town of Northam today.