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Nasa astronauts 'drunk on duty' Nasa astronauts 'drunk on duty'
(about 3 hours later)
US astronauts were cleared to fly while drunk at least twice, a review panel set up by space agency Nasa has found. Nasa astronauts were cleared to fly while drunk at least twice, a panel set up by the US space agency 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 astronauts were cleared to fly even though colleagues had raised safety concerns, the independent review found.
The drunk astronauts were cleared 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.
Nasa said it would launch a full-scale internal safety review and recommend unspecified corrective action if incidents were found to have occurred.
The independent review was begun to look at health issues affecting Nasa crew members after astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested on kidnapping and assault charges.
Ms Nowak 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 her or anyone else by name.
Surgeons' concernsSurgeons' concerns
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 allegations about the astronauts first surfaced in the publication Aviation Week and Space Technology on Thursday.
On Friday, Nasa published the independent report which stated that it had let astronauts fly after drinking on at least two occasions.
READ THE FINDINGS Panel report in full Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE FINDINGS Panel report in full Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The report describes "some episodes of heavy alcohol use in the immediate pre-flight period" which, it says, led to safety concerns. It said the two incidents involved one astronaut who flew on a Russian spacecraft, possibly in 2000, and another on a space shuttle at an undetermined time.
"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. "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 said.
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". "However, the individuals were still permitted to fly."
Nasa said however that it was taking the report's findings very seriously and would be launching an internal safety review. It is unclear how many hours before the flight the drinking occurred and what quantities were consumed.
It also proposed that astronauts should draw up their own "code of conduct". The chairman of the panel, US Air Force physician Col Richard Bachman, told a news conference that there was no way of knowing whether these were isolated incidents or the tip of the iceberg.
Col Bachman then outlined a number of the committee's recommendations, including the institution of a formal written code of conduct, the creation of "enduring supervisory and mentoring relationships", and the empowerment of staff to bring forward concerns.
'Anecdotal references'
At a news conference in Washington, Nasa Deputy Administrator Shana Dale said the agency would institute an internal safety review to investigate the "allegations".
I must emphasise that this report does not provide specific information about alcohol-related incidents Shana DaleNasa Deputy Administrator
"We will act immediately on the more troubling aspects of this report with respect to alcohol use, and the anecdotal references to resistance by agency leadership to accepting advice or criticism about the fitness and readiness of individuals for spaceflight," she said.
"I must emphasise that this report does not provide specific information about alcohol-related incidents and the review committee has left it to Nasa to assess the scope of these alleged incidents."
However, Ms Dale welcomed the recommendation of a formal written code of conduct for astronauts, who she said represented some of America's most extraordinary and talented individuals.
"For almost the entire history of the astronaut core our experience has been that Nasa's astronauts conduct themselves with integrity, professionalism and a desire to bring honour to America and America's space programme," she added.
The space agency also said it would make explicit its policy that prohibits any drinking in the 12 hours before an astronaut flies.
Computer sabotageComputer 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 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 stationThe 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.