American completes round-the-world balloon flight

American adventurer Steve Fossett drifted into aviation history today, as he became the first man to fly a balloon solo around the world.

Flying through the darkness over the ocean south of Australia in his silvery Spirit of Freedom balloon, Fossett crossed east of 117 degrees longitude, the line from which he set off two weeks ago.

The Chicago investment millionaire covered more than 19,263 miles on the trip, finally succeeding in his sixth attempt at the record.

"Steve has crossed the finishing line," said mission controller Joe Ritchie.

Speaking by satellite telephone, a calm sounding Fossett said: "It is a wonderful time for me."

He couldn't immediately break open champagne in his cramped capsule.

"I cant do very much celebrating here," Fossett said. "I do have a few bottles of Bud Light but I'm saving it for the landing."

Bud Light sponsored Fossett's successful attempt.

As an official fax from Fossett's capsule rolled into the mission control, applause broke out and team members finally exchanged hugs.

Even before he crossed the finish line, Fossett drew early congratulations from pals Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland and Brian Jones of England, who together in 1999 became the first balloonists ever to succeed in a round-the-world quest when they traveled over the Northern Hemisphere.

"We are very excited that this time seems to be the good one," Piccard told Fossett. "And we hope the next 24 hours will allow you to fulfill your dream."

Aside from a couple of turbulent patches, his flight was largely problem-free. During some stretches in recent days, winds pushed Fossett's balloon along at a race car-like speed of 200 mph.

Fossett chose to fly over the Southern Hemisphere, as he did in 1998 and last year. That route posed fewer challenges from wary governments, since he was effectively flying over only a handful of countries.

Fossett has spent the past two weeks in a capsule 7 feet long, 5½ feet wide and 5½ feet tall, living on military-style rations and using oxygen cylinders. His toilet is a bucket.

On Sunday, Fossett broke his own four-year-old record for distance traveled by a solo balloonist. Fossett went 14,235 miles in 1998, when his attempt from Argentina ended with his balloon's harrowing 29,000-foot plunge into the Coral Sea.