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| Nasa astronauts 'flew when drunk' | Nasa astronauts 'flew when drunk' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US astronauts were allowed to fly while drunk at least twice, a review panel set up by space agency Nasa has found. | US astronauts were allowed to fly while drunk at least twice, a review panel set up by space agency Nasa has found. |
| 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 panel was created to look at health issues affecting Nasa crew members after astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested on kidnapping and assault charges. |
| The drunk astronauts were allowed to fly even though colleagues had raised concerns about safety, the panel found. | |
| The panel also said it found evidence of heavy use of alcohol within the 12-hour pre-flight ban on drinking. | The panel also said it found evidence of heavy use of alcohol within the 12-hour pre-flight ban on drinking. |
| 'Act of passion' | |
| 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'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. |
| But, when referring to psychological testing of astronauts, the report notes: "Initial screening and recurrent psychological evaluation are not intended to, nor can they, predict a future disorder of conduct or 'act of passion'." | |
| READ THE FINDINGS Panel report in full Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ THE FINDINGS Panel report in full Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| The panel report describes "some episodes of heavy alcohol use in the immediate pre-flight period" which, it says, led to safety concerns. | |
| "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," the report says. | |
| "However, the individuals were still permitted to fly," it adds. | |
| The report did not say when the incidents took place, if pilots where involved or how many astronauts were implicated. | |
| In a news conference, a Nasa official said she could not comment directly on the "troubling alcohol-related incidents" because, due to privacy issues, they were based on "anecdotal material". | |
| Nasa said however that it was taking the report's findings very seriously and would be launching an internal safety review. | |
| It also proposed that astronauts should draw up their own "code of conduct". | |
| Computer sabotage | Computer sabotage |
| The report comes at a tough time for the space agency, jolted by revelations on Thursday 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. |
| The damage is very obvious, easy to detect William GerstenmaierNasa Associate Administrator for Space Operations In graphics: Space station | The damage is very obvious, easy to detect William GerstenmaierNasa Associate Administrator for Space Operations In graphics: Space station |
| However, it stressed that the equipment was not essential and that astronauts' lives had not been at risk. An investigation is under way. | However, it stressed that the equipment was not essential and that astronauts' lives had not been at risk. An investigation is under way. |
| Nasa's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, William Gerstenmaier, said the computer problem had been discovered earlier this month. | Nasa's Associate Administrator for Space Operations, William Gerstenmaier, said the computer problem had been discovered earlier this month. |
| 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. |