Russian balloonist and survivalist Fedor Konyukhov on Tuesday embarked on a solo flight around the world in a hot air balloon from Western Australia.



"I like to travel. That's the truth. I was 15 years old when I went on my first adventures. It's my lifestyle," the 65-year-old adventurer told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ahead of the launch.





He hopes to complete the journey in less than 13 days, a world record set by American aviator Steve Fossett in 2002.



Konyukhov's aerial vessel is 52 meters (170 feet) tall and weighs 1,600 kilograms (3,500 pounds), although the gondola housing him only fits a single person.

Watch video 00:38 Around the world in a hot air balloon | DW

His hot air balloon is expected to reach speeds of 300 kilometers per hour (186 miles per hour) on the jet stream, while reaching cruising altitudes between 5,000 and 8,000 meters.The journey will take him over Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Ocean, Chile, Argentina, the Atlantic Ocean, South Africa and the Indian Ocean before arriving back in Western Australia.Konyukhov's previous adventures include rowing across the Pacific Ocean in 160 days, walking to the north and south poles, climbing Mount Everest and sailing around the world.At fifteen years of age, he accomplished his first expedition by crossing the Sea of Azov in a row boat, according to his website.

What do we do with helium? Helium is fun! What would our world be without colorful balloons? But fortunately helium is not that scarce. Flying the balloons isn't the only fun part: If you open a helium balloon and fill your mouth and throat with the noble gas you get a high pitched voice. This has to do with the low density of helium. Soundwaves spread out differently than they do with air with air.

What do we do with helium? Helium gives courage At least that's what Felix Baumgartner needed in 2012, when he let this helium-filled balloon take him up into the stratosphere. He jumped back down to Earth with a parachute from a height of 38,969 meters. Two years later the American Alan Eustace outdid his record. The 57 year old jumped from 41,419 meters.

What do we do with helium? Not a good alternative Another light gas is hydrogen. On Earth it is available in practically unlimited quantities and good for numerous technical applications. Filling Zeppelins is not one of them, however. Humans had to learn this lesson the hard way when the Hindenburg exploded in Lakehurst, USA, in 1937.

What do we do with helium? Non-flammable means safe! Today zeppelins or blimps are exclusively filled with helium. It does not burn, is not poisonous and therefore perfectly safe.

What do we do with helium? The reactor of the future Superconducting coils are cooled with helium. They are used everywhere strong magnetic fields are needed. This is the nuclear fusion experiment Wendelstein 7-X. Here a very strong magnetic field keeps hot plasma in its place.

What do we do with helium? Helium cooling for particle accelerators At the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), liquid helium also plays a central role. It is cooling the superconducting magnets that keep particles on their track. CERN operates the biggest "refrigerator" in the world.

What do we do with helium? Protective gas for welding When welding, one has to prevent the oxidation of the steel right when the metal melts. Otherwise the weld would break. That's why workers use helium as an inert gas: They flood the area around the weld with helium, pushing out all the unwanted oxygen and other gases.

What do we do with helium? Traveling to great depths with helium The gases we breath are not usually poisonous. But this changes with increasing pressure: Nitrogen becomes a narcotic at depths of around 50 meters. Oxygen becomes a neurotoxin under high pressure. Therefore, technical divers - working at depths of several hundred meters - use helium as a breathing gas. The amount of oxygen is reduced to a necessary minimum.

What do we do with helium? No MRI without helium Let's hope all those diver oame back healthy and do not have to go through Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI machines also need helium for the cooling of their superconducting coils. Author: Fabian Schmidt



ls/rc (dpa, AP)