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Balloon race: One mission proceeds, another is delayed

Rutan and Melton
Rutan and Melton
January 8, 1998
Web posted at: 5:26 p.m. EST (2226 GMT)

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (CNN) -- U.S. adventurers Dick Rutan and Dave Melton expect to launch their "Global Hilton" balloon Friday in a bid to be the first to fly nonstop around the world.

Rutan and Melton had initially planned to take off from Albuquerque Tuesday morning but suspended the launch for up to two weeks because they believed poor wind conditions made it impossible.

But team spokesman Patrick Barry said they had been too conservative in suspending the flight and would now try again in the early hours Friday.

Meanwhile, three European balloonists also trying for the round-the-world record, have delayed their launch from Switzerland on Friday until sometime next week because of a mooring accident.

A cable connecting the "Breitling II" balloon and its passenger compartment snapped Thursday as the craft was being moved.

Reuters contributed to this report.

 
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