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Happy and Warm - Waiting for Storms to Disperse

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JUNE 29, 2002, 2:00 a.m. CDT (JUNE 29, 2002, 07:00 UTC)
Emerging into the dawn of his 11th day aloft, Steve Fossett is 5,400 miles (8617 km) farther east and south than at the same point in the mission last year. As in the past several hours, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom is still in a sort of holding pattern, having dropped low to 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) out of the faster jet streams. The balloon has slowed to 47 miles per hour (75 km per hour) because of this, in order to allow unfavorable weather to dissipate before he crosses the South African region.

At these lower altitudes, it will also be warmer. The ice is melting off the balloon and falling down like a rain shower on the gondola suspended beneath it. Despite the extremes of conditions experienced in the past few days, all the equipment is working smoothly. Fossett said in a 1:30 a.m. (6:30 UTC) phone call to Mission Director Tim Cole that he is "happy and warm."

At 46 degrees south and 16 degrees east, Bud Light Spirit of Freedom has a heading of 43 degrees and has traveled 13,158 miles (21,175 km). The around-the-world mission is now 72% complete.

.......Westy.....