Balloon pilots wave before cross-Pacific flight from Saga, Japan

Balloon pilots wave before cross-Pacific flight from Saga, Japan

Balloon pilots Troy Bradley (R) of the United States and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of Russia wave before their liftoff in Saga, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 25, 2015, en route to a record-breaking journey of more than 10,000 kilometers aboard a gas-filled balloon across the Pacific to Mexico. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Gas balloon duo set world records with trans-Pacific flight

Gas balloon duo set world records with trans-Pacific flight

Spectators surround a gas-filled balloon in Saga, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 25, 2015, prior to its departure on a trans-Pacific trip. The two pilots, American Troy Bradley and Russian Leonid Tiukhtyaev, set world records for distance and time in the air when they landed off the shore of Mexico. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Helium balloon sets off from Japan to North America

Helium balloon sets off from Japan to North America

A helium balloon carrying Troy Bradley of the United States and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of Russia leaves a ground in Saga, western Japan, in the early morning of Jan. 25, 2015, for a 9,600-kilometer journey to North America. The team is aiming for the balloon, which is 46 meters in length, 31 meters in width and weighs 669 kilograms, to cross the Pacific Ocean in five to seven days. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Helium balloon sets off from Japan to North America

Helium balloon sets off from Japan to North America

Pilots Troy Bradley of the United States (R) and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of Russia wave in the early morning of Jan. 25, 2015, as they leave a ground in Saga, western Japan, by helium balloon in a bid to reach North America in five to seven days. The balloon is 46 meters in length, 31 meters in width and weighs 669 kilograms. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo