Aero-News: Quote of the Day

ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues.

Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.

Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day.

Let us hear from you, folks!

Aero-News Quote of the Day

"It really got to be kind of crazy. You have this buildup of tension. You go out there and then it gets scrubbed, then you don't know when you're going to go. ... There were definitely times when people drank during that period. Duh. But I don't think it was ever an issue before a mission, like the day of or the day before."

Source: Former NASA flight surgeon Dr. Jonathan Clark, commenting on persistent allegations astronauts have flown into orbit while under the influence of alcohol... and the implication alcohol abuse is a common problem at the space agency. Several astronauts contend they have enjoyed a beer or two ahead of a launch... but that they abide to an unofficial 12-hour 'bottle-to-blast-off' rule, which forbids imbibing in the final hours before liftoff.

FMI: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov