Plagued by freezing temperatures and diminishing fuel, Steve Fossett floated high above Saudi Arabia Saturday, trying to become the first balloonist to circle the Earth nonstop.
His ground crew maintained hope but said success was doubtful."We're trying to squeeze the bottle, and get every last drop out," said Bo Kemper, who is in communication with Fossett via computer. "It looks like we can get him past India and possibly to Thailand."
The ground crew was looking at possible landing sites in Thailand but still was holding out hope Fossett could make it across the Pacific Ocean.
By noon Saturday, Fossett had traveled 9,600 miles in his silver-colored balloon, Solo Spirit, which lifted off from Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Monday night.
Fossett lost at least a day and "a lot of fuel" in skirting south of Libya while trying to arrange permission for an overflight, Kemper said. After detouring far to the south, permission came through Friday night, and Fossett cut across the southern tip of the African nation.
In addition to fuel woes, the wear and tear of the flight on Fossett himself was beginning to take its toll. Inside the cabin, temperatures ranged from zero to 10 degrees; outside it was 30 to 50 below zero, Kemper said. Fossett was breathing through an oxygen mask.
"He's real uncomfortable," Kemper said.