You would think Jim Garner is flying the balloon himself after listening to his breathless accounts of the first successful solo balloon flight around the world.

        “I'm exhausted, but I'm still very excited about the mission,” said Mr. Garner, 22, a native Cincinnatian playing an important role in the history-making flight of the Spirit of Freedom balloon, manned by adventurer Steve Fossett.

        On Tuesday, Mr. Fossett became the first person to successfully circle the globe alone in a balloon, covering 19,428.6 miles in two weeks in his sixth attempt.

        Mr. Fossett's balloon — a Rozier that combines the principles of hot-air and helium balloons — was still airborne early today.

        And the 58-year-old millionaire was depending on Mr. Garner and 17 other Washington University students serving as his mission control crew in St. Louis to ensure a smooth landing.

        “Everybody here at mission control is trying to bring him down as safely as possible,” said Mr. Garner, a second-year student who is simultaneously pursuing a master's in business administration and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

        Mr. Garner, whose parents Charles and Mary Lou live in Mariemont, said his primary responsibilities include managing and updating the Web site for the mission, www.spiritoffreedom.com.

        “I love what I'm doing,” he said. “He is such a charismatic character that he just draws you to him and gets you excited about the mission.”

        The balloon mission is expected to end sometime this morning in South Australia, about 175 miles northwest of Adelaide.

        “The time and location of the landing could change, depending on conditions,” Mr. Garner said. “But he has to come down either in the morning or evening because of the higher winds that pick up during the day.”

        Mr. Garner said the record-setting balloon flight will certainly not be Mr. Fossett's last mission.

        He said Mr. Fossett already has announced plans to seek yet another aeronautical record by flying a glider higher than anyone else ever has — 60,000 feet.

        Will Mr. Garner be along for the ride?

        “All I can say is this experience has certainly piqued my interest in exploring and adventuring,” he said.

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