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They Launched!January 7, 1997 7:00am ESTThe Virgin Global Challenger around-the-world balloon launched this morning at 11:19 Zulu (GMT) from Marrakech, Morocco and began its projected 12 to 21 day non-stop journey around the earth. At the last minute, crew member Rory McCarthy was diagnosed with pneumonia, and had to be replaced by Alex Ritchey, a 51-year-old mechanical engineer and a member of the Virgin team of engineers. Ritchey, who designed the pressurization system for the Global Balloon, joined Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson in what may be a world-record breaking flight. "It was a beautiful launch," reports Erin Porter, director of Protocol for the project, who watched the launch on British news from the Virgin flight center. In an interview before launch, Richard Branson, in high spirits, commented that he hopes someone at home remembered to feed the dog and that he hopes to land at his home in Oxfordshire after circumnavigating the globe. He reportedly told his son to mow the lawn in preparation for landing. At last report, the team was at 3000 feet flying above Marrakech and slowly ascending. (table of contents) Science of Ballooning | Teacher's Guide | Resources | Transcript | Balloon Home Editor's Picks | Previous Sites | Join Us/E-mail | TV/Web Schedule About NOVA | Teachers | Site Map | Shop | Jobs | Search | To print PBS Online | NOVA Online | WGBH © | Updated October 2000 |