Global Progress

As Renee Uliassi charted her husband’s progress from their headquarters near Chicago, solo balloonist Kevin Uliassi cruised over northern India, wondering if he will have enough fuel to make it across the Pacific. His ground crew said he might have to land his craft as early as today, likely short of the world solo distance record. But he never wanted the distance record; he wanted the whole globe, said a spokesman. By Thursday, the engineer, 36, was traveling southeast at 90 mph and 31,000 feet to avoid the Himalayas. Mission updates on the Internet are at www.j.renee.iit.edu. He has traveled more than 11,750 miles in a zigzag route since Feb. 22. The solo record is more than 14,235 miles by Steve Fosset in 1998.