A Russian balloonist has launched his helium balloon from an Australian Outback town in a bid to set a record for flying around the world non-stop.
Fedor Konyukhov launched his 52-metre (170-foot) tall balloon today from the same field outside Northam in Western Australia state that American adventurer Steve Fossett started his circumnavigation of the globe in 2002.
The 65-year-old hopes to complete the journey in less than the 13 days that Fossett took. Fossett died in a plane crash in 2007.
The launch was originally scheduled for July 2, but weather conditions forced a delay.
