Steve Fossett took off from Busch Stadium aboard his balloon “Solo Spirit” and set a world distance record when he landed in India. He might have made it around the world but Libya denied him permission to cross their country.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.