"Houston, we're out of the Hangar, direction 44 North"
"...headed for the Skyy"!
Posted on 07/26/2007 1:24:56 PM PDT by Stoat
NASA allowed at least two astronauts to fly into space even though they were so drunk that flight surgeons considered them a safety risk, according to a report published Thursday by Aviation Week and Space Technology.
In a brief account reported on the publication's website, the trade journal said an independent health panel commissioned by NASA also found a pattern of ''heavy use of alcohol'' by astronauts before launch.
The report did not include any details about which astronauts or space programs were involved or how recently the problems might have occurred. Since U.S. human space flights began in 1963, 292 American astronauts have been launched.
Bill Gerstenmaier, an associate administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, said Thursday that no mission had ever been jeopardized by an intoxicated astronaut.
''I've never had an incident of that,'' he said. ``There's not been a disciplinary action or anything like that I've been involved with regarding this type of activity.''
NASA scheduled a news conference Friday to discuss the panel's findings.
The study was one of two requested by NASA in the wake of the February arrest in Orlando of astronaut Lisa Nowak, implicated in a bizarre love triangle that involved another astronaut.
Nowak has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary with assault. NASA dismissed her in March.
According to the Aviation Week report, the panel found that ``on at least two occasions, astronauts were allowed to fly after flight surgeons and other astronauts warned they were so intoxicated that they posed a flight-safety risk.''
'The panel also reported `heavy use of alcohol' by astronauts before launch, within the standard 12-hour 'bottle to throttle' rule applied to NASA flight crew members,'' according to the account by Aviation Week reporter Frank Morring Jr.
The study apparently doesn't deal directly with the Nowak incident or mention any other astronaut by name, Morring reported.
"Houston, we're out of the Hangar, direction 44 North"
"...headed for the Skyy"!
No surprise there. Dennis Quaid and Ed Harris were in the movie.
lol I was going to respond with almost your exact words.
If I was strapped into a seat sitting on top of a billion gallons of high explosives I’d want to be drunk too!
"My name Jose Jimenez....." As only he could say it. Bill has recognition from Hispanic groups and have more sense of humour than the politically correct.
Somehow I have caught the thread of FR empathy. Strange though how some things just come off that way. Anyway for my own failings, the phrase bit of a bracer says just about it all.
A nice bit of posting all around, says I.
This had to be two of the early VIP celebrity astronauts, or NASA wouldn’t have caved and let them fly.
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They didn’t crash the shuttle so who cares? We must be into the crazy news days of summer where there is no real news.
Not only that but the whole thing was built by the lowest bidder...
Would you rather take your chances on something built by a government employee.
And NASA’s been fibbin us when they say that the reason the guys always blow chunks when they get up there is the gravity...
They’re really workin off a bender!!
After seeing fried circuit board and components 150 jumpers to repair them (Going in full authority electronic engine controls ) you can't get me on a plane without a few belts in me.
A few more in flight and time for a nap, I don't want to know anything until I'm on the ground (One way or another.)
Asked? They'd kill their grannies for a Glory Ride. That's why you have billionaires paying Russia $30M for a trip.
Yea, but they were snorting Nyborg...
I knew that was Endeavor at the IHOP a few months back, wondering what it was doing there at 1 AM.
I knew that was Endeavor at the IHOP a few months back, wondering what it was doing there at 1 AM.
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Take a ride....on Heavy Metal!
A lot of the astronauts spend the first day in space throwing up, so it’s apropos.
"HOUSTON......WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"
Unnless there is an emergency evacuation or they decide to sit on the pilot's lap and sing a song.
This is amazing. You have the honor that only a few people in the history of the world has had of being able to fly in space, and you get drunk before takeoff? You would jeopardize this honor by getting drunk?
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