Prometheus 6

Astronauts Have Flown While Drunk, NASA Finds
By JOHN SCHWARTZ

NASA’s astronauts have flown while intoxicated on at least two occasions, according to reports of an internal NASA investigation, and the astronauts involved were warned that their drunkenness constituted a safety risk to the flight. But it is unclear whether this is a current problem and whether the incidents involved space shuttle flights.

The report, which has not been released, was described in an article published yesterday on the Web site of Aviation Week and Space Technology. According to the article, the panel investigators reported “ ‘heavy use of alcohol’ by astronauts” within 12 hours of flying.

According to people who have seen the report, it is a 12-page document with a single paragraph that deals with the accusations of alcohol and flying. It gives no details or specifics on the astronauts or the circumstances surrounding the incidents.

NASA said it would hold a news conference about the report today. Yesterday, NASA officials were asked about it at a news conference about the next shuttle mission, that of the Endeavour, which is scheduled to lift off as early as Aug. 7.