But Investigation Will Continue

They've checked the records... and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin says so far, the agency has found no evidence to back up allegations astronauts flew into space while under the influence of alcohol.

"Right now, we've gone back 10 years and we can't even find where it would be a possibility there was crew under the influence on either a Soyuz or a shuttle," he said, according to Reuters.

The agency has even checked flights made by astronauts in the agency's T-38 trainers, Griffin said, before adding he would be "extraordinarily surprised" if the accusations were proven true.

As ANN reported, the claim emerged last month in a report by a panel of health experts commissioned by NASA to investigate astronauts' physical and mental health, in the aftermath of the arrest of former astronaut Lisa Nowak.

The panel found evidence that on at least two occasions, NASA astronauts were cleared to fly despite showing signs of intoxication. One incident was on a shuttle flight -- which was later delayed for unrelated issues -- and the other on a Russian Soyuz capsule.

Investigators brought the situations to NASA's attention, but did not try to confirm the allegations themselves.

Griffin repeated the agency's vow to reinforce its 12-hour ban on drinking alcohol before launch. He also noted shuttle crews often have little time to themselves ahead of a mission -- citing the close scrutiny the astronauts now onboard Endeavour received in the hours before launch.

"I mean they would have to really want to drink and hide it really well because from the time they woke up they were with other people," he said, using Endeavour's crew as an example.

Despite his own feelings as to the validity of the accusations, Griffin says it's his responsibility to check them out.

"Many barrels have a bad apple," he said in an earlier Reuters interview. "If there is truth underlying these allegations then I want to know it."

FMI: www.nasa.gov