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Nasa astronauts 'drunk on duty'
It is not clear if the incidents occurred on space shuttles
US astronauts were cleared 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 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.
Surgeons' 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.
READ THE FINDINGS
Panel report in full
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The 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.
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
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 is very obvious, easy to detect
William Gerstenmaier
Nasa 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.
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 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.
The damage is believed to be the first act of sabotage of flight equipment Nasa has discovered.
Nasa astronauts 'drunk on duty'
It is not clear if the incidents occurred on space shuttles
US astronauts were cleared 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 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.
Surgeons' 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.
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 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.
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
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 is very obvious, easy to detect
William Gerstenmaier
Nasa 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.
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 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.
The damage is believed to be the first act of sabotage of flight equipment Nasa has discovered.
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