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US astronauts 'flew while drunk' Nasa astronauts 'flew when drunk'
(about 6 hours later)
A panel reviewing health issues at Nasa has found that US astronauts have been allowed to fly while intoxicated at least twice, an aviation magazine says. US astronauts were allowed to fly while drunk at least twice, a review panel set up by space agency Nasa has found.
The panel also found heavy alcohol use within the 12-hour "bottle to throttle" ban for flight crew, according to Aviation Week and Space Technology. The panel was created to look at health issues affecting Nasa crew members after astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested on kidnapping and assault charges.
The independent panel is due to present its findings later on Friday. Nasa has declined to comment on the allegations. The two drunk astronauts were allowed to fly even though colleagues raised concerns about safety, the panel found.
Separately, Nasa confirmed that a contractor had sabotaged a computer. The panel also said it found evidence of heavy use of alcohol within the 12-hour pre-flight ban on drinking.
The panel's report does not mention anyone by name - including Ms Nowak, who was arrested in February and stands accused of attacking her love rival, the girlfriend of a fellow astronaut.
The panel report said that doctors and other astronauts had raised concerns that the two drunken crew members posed a flight safety risk, but the astronauts were not grounded.
The report did not say when the incidents took place, or whether they involved pilots.
Computer sabotage
Earlier, Nasa confirmed that a contractor had sabotaged a computer in an unrelated incident.
The damage to wiring in a network box - which is to be taken to the International Space Station (ISS) - was intentional and obvious, the agency said.The damage to wiring in a network box - which is to be taken to the International Space Station (ISS) - was intentional and obvious, the agency said.
However, it stressed that the equipment was not essential and that astronauts' lives had not been at risk. An investigation is under way.
Warnings
Meanwhile the health panel is preparing to announce its conclusions.
It was set up following the arrest on kidnapping and assault charges of Nasa astronaut Lisa Nowak in February.
The damage is very obvious, easy to detect William GerstenmaierNasa Associate Administrator for Space Operations In graphics: Space stationThe damage is very obvious, easy to detect William GerstenmaierNasa Associate Administrator for Space Operations In graphics: Space station
She is accused of attacking her love rival, the girlfriend of a fellow astronaut. However, it stressed that the equipment was not essential and that astronauts' lives had not been at risk. An investigation is under way.
The panel's findings do not deal with Ms Nowak directly or mention any other crew by name. Nasa's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, William Gerstenmaier, said the computer problem had been discovered earlier this month.
According to Aviation Week, the panel found that on at least two occasions astronauts flew after doctors and fellow astronauts had warned that they were intoxicated and posed a flight-safety risk.
The report did not say when the alleged incidents took place, or whether they involved pilots.
Regarding the sabotage allegations, Nasa's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, William Gerstenmaier, said the computer problem had been discovered earlier this month.
"The damage is very obvious, easy to detect," he told reporters on Thursday. "It's not a mystery to us."
Mr Gerstenmaier said wires had been found cut inside the unit before it had been loaded onto the shuttle.
The computer is designed to collect and relay data from sensors which detect vibrations and forces on the space station's external trusses.The computer is designed to collect and relay data from sensors which detect vibrations and forces on the space station's external trusses.
The equipment had been supplied by a sub-contractor, he added.The equipment had been supplied by a sub-contractor, he added.
Mr Gerstenmaier said engineers would try to repair the hardware before 7 August, when the space shuttle Endeavour is due to fly to ISS, but that the mission would not be delayed.Mr Gerstenmaier said engineers would try to repair the hardware before 7 August, when the space shuttle Endeavour is due to fly to ISS, but that the mission would not be delayed.
The damage is believed to be the first act of sabotage of flight equipment Nasa has discovered.The damage is believed to be the first act of sabotage of flight equipment Nasa has discovered.