Cites Two Occasions Of Concerns By Flight Surgeons

Is alcohol an ingredient for the "right stuff?" A NASA report released Friday reveals on at least two occasions, astronauts were allowed to head into orbit... despite showing signs of being intoxicated.

As ANN reported, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin called for investigations by the NASA Astronaut Health Care System Review Committee into the physical and emotional states of the agency's astronauts, following the February arrest of then-spacefarer Lisa Nowak. The agency conducted one; Johnson Space Center in Houston conducted its own internal investigation

NASA told Reuters the agency will look into allegations made on the report, that say on two occasions astronauts were permitted to fly into space, despite evidence of "heavy use of alcohol by astronauts in the immediate preflight period."

"Alcohol is freely used in crew quarters." the report continues. "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.

"The medical certification of astronauts for flight duty is not structured to detect such episodes, nor is any medical surveillance program by itself likely to detect them or change the pattern of alcohol use," the report added.

According to the agency, in the past NASA has based its alcohol consumption policy for astronauts, on the requirements for flying its planes. The agency has amended its requirements, based on the agency’s T-38 aircraft policy. The interim policy prohibits alcohol consumption within 12 hours prior to flight... and mandates all astronauts neither be under the influence nor the effects of alcohol at the time of launch.

"All astronauts will be educated on the policy," the agency added.

FMI: Read The NASA Report (.pdf), Read The JSC Findings (.pdf)