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CNN Live Event/Special

Fossett Becomes First Solo Balloonist to Circumnavigate Earth

Aired July 02, 2002 - 09:44   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Did he or didn't he make the record? That is the solo flight around the world that Steve Fossett has been pursuing. Let's go now to St. Louis. We understand a press conference is underway talking about just that.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... outstanding student interns to introduce the press conference. But, Steve, congratulations again, it has been a privilege to work with you on this important endeavor.

STEVE FOSSETT, RECORD-BREAKING BALLOONIST: Thanks so much for your support all the way along, Mark (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Chancellor Wrighton. Congratulations, Steve. I'm Emily Fredericks (ph), student intern with the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom. And thank you for coming to today's press conference at Washington University in St. Louis. Welcome to the callers on the bridge. We have an exciting announcement today, regarding the Bud Light Spirit of Freedom balloon. Today, we will have speaking with you mission control director Joe Ritchie, systems director Bert...

HARRIS: And there we have the official word that Steve Fossett has actually crossed that imaginary finish line over the ocean, and he has completed his solo flight around the world in that hot air balloon, that now being a world record and first time ever been done.

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