1.   The balloon was launched today with a host of instruments and probes clamped to its cable.

2.   Brink, who intends to launch his balloon from Nijmegen, the Netherlands, is a helicopter instructor and veteran balloonist.

3.   Fossett launched his balloon Monday from the Stratobowl site near Rapid City, S.D.

4.   He is also racing against two competing teams, one British and one Dutch, which have not yet launched their balloons.

5.   A subsequent plan to launch big balloons carrying infrared cameras to search for the wild man failed, the agency quoted team leader Wang Fangchen as saying.

6.   No balloon was ever launched and it is unclear what happened to all the money.

7.   The balloons are being launched from Australia to take advantage of favorable air currents.

8.   Several hot-air balloons were launched for the occasion.