Drunk In Space
Come on, everyone drinks on the job every now and again, matter of fact it is a requirement to be a blogger, but when you are responsible of a multi billion dollar tax payer funded rocket – I think you should lay off the booze.
Nasa managers could be hauled before Congress to answer claims that they ignored doctors’ advice and let space shuttle astronauts fly while drunk.
The US space agency announced today that it is to shake up the way it monitors crews in the light of the allegations, which were formally revealed by a panel set up to review astronauts’ health and well-being.
“Interviews with both flight surgeons and astronauts identified some episodes of heavy use of alcohol by astronauts in the immediate pre-flight period, which has led to flight safety concerns,” the report stated.
“Alcohol is freely used in crew quarters. Two specific instances were described where astronauts had been so intoxicated prior to flight that flight surgeons and/or fellow astronauts raised concerns to local on-scene leadership regarding flight safety. However, the individuals were still permitted to fly.”
I can understand with the history of the space program, and the fact that you are sitting on TONS of highly volatile fuel, astronauts might be tempted to take a nip or two but STILL! This has been a bad year for the space program, first they have diaper girl, then sabotage, now drunks.
