Balloonist dons parachute during Andes ride
Steve Fossett has been forced to wear a parachute after being thrown about by turbulent winds over the Andes.
Chief meteorologist Bob Rice, at Mission Control, in St Louis, said the balloonist's situation is giving cause for concern.
The Chicago multi-millionaire emailed his Mission Control to describe his situation.
He wrote: "Sometimes the burner flames go horizontal between blasts. So far I've been able to control descents and climbs to 500 feet per minute. Autopilot cannot keep up.
"Parachute is on in case of envelope rupture. My objective is to keep it in a block 27,000 to 29,000 feet. No guarantees."
He emailed a half hour later that the situation had calmed, but that he could run into more trouble as he approaches two more mountain ridges.
The email, titled "I don't like excitement," said, "I'll keep the parachute on and stay alert."
Mr Fossett has crossed the border of Chile into Argentina an is travelling about 45mph. He was attempting to keep his balloon at an altitude of about 28,000 feet.
If all goes well, Solo Spirit will be out of mountain terrain and heading over the high plateaus of Argentina by around 1800 irish time.
