What was the name of the balloon that completed the first nonstop circumnavigation of Earth in 1999?

Breitling Orbiter 3 completed the first nonstop circumnavigation of Earth in 1999.

The Breitling Orbiter 3 was a Rozière balloon, a hybrid design combining a helium gas cell with a heated-air compartment. Swiss psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard and British pilot Brian Jones flew it around the world, taking off from Château-d’Oex, Switzerland, on 1 March 1999 and landing in Egypt on 21 March.

The flight lasted about 20 days and covered roughly 40,000 kilometres. Its success followed several failed or incomplete attempts by other teams. The hybrid design allowed the crew to use solar heating and ballast management while carrying supplies for a prolonged journey.

This achievement is distinct from an ordinary hot-air balloon record. Breitling Orbiter 3 used both helium and hot air, so it is properly classified as a Rozière balloon. The flight remains one of the defining milestones in modern balloon exploration.