Disastronauts

The space program just got really interesting.

At least twice, astronauts were allowed to fly after flight surgeons and other astronauts warned they were so drunk they posed a flight-safety risk. An independent panel also found "heavy use of alcohol" before launch that was within the standard 12-hour "bottle-to-throttle" rule, according to Aviation Week & Space Technology. A NASA official confirmed that the panel reviewed health report contained claims of alcohol use by astronauts before launch, but said the information is based on anonymous interviews and is unsubstantiated. Also note that the same official opposed being named because NASA is preparing a news conference Friday to discuss the panel's findings -- translation: the whistle confirmer didn't want to get fired for saying too many damning things in light of the plan for NASA to spin a little damage control magic on the embarrassing situation.

The Aviation Week report doesn't make clear when the alleged incidents occurred, nor does it say whether the intoxication involved crew members who have no role in flying the shuttle or whether it could have the pilot or commander.

At a news conference to discuss the upcoming space shuttle launch set for Aug. 7, NASA's space operations chief was asked repeatedly about the drunken astronaut report. NASA manager Bill Gerstenmaier would only say that he had never seen an intoxicated astronaut before flight or been involved in any disciplinary action related to that. But Gerstenmaier had more news. He revealed that an employee for a NASA subcontractor had cut the wires in a computer that was about to be loaded into the shuttle Endeavour for launch.

Yes, he derailed the inquiry into reports of drunken astronauts by revealing sabotage!

Following the arrest in February of former space shuttle flier Lisa Nowak, who was implicated in a love triangle that led up to charges of attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary with assault, these two news nuggets have further wounded the once proud reputation of the space agency that lost the Columbia a few years ago and still faces scrutiny for a possible moon landing hoax. Factor in the hailstorm that tore into a space shuttle on the launch pad to set back the year's flight schedule and the recent shooting at Johnson Space Center in Houston by an employee who later killed himself and you're looking at a banner year for the nation's space agency. Not helping matters are comments from former astronauts and officials.

Jeffrey Williams, who spent six months on the space station last year, said, "We're trained to deal with things so we deal with them without much emotion." Wow, just like the guy who live in my building in college who'd drink sraight vodka and sit in the corner in the dark and listen to Dark Side Of The Moon.

Retired executive Seymour Himmel, wasn't surprised to learn the information was anonymous. "Let's face it. Astronauts are a bunch of brothers and sisters, OK, and they'll cover each other's backsides because they're part of the team," he said. "And who knows what the role of the particular ones was to be. If he was just to sit in the middle seat somewhere and just be a passenger, you kind of say, 'Well, gee, I hope he doesn't vomit on the way up.'"

Thank God Virgin Galactic is getting started because otherwise there'd be no access to space. Right now, NASA better find themselves Cliff Tarpey to clean up their mess.