NASA: Our Astronauts Don't Fly Drunk

NASA Administrator Mike Griffin today denied allegations that astronauts were drunk before or during space liftoffs. . Griffin said that there was "absolutely no evidence" to support the anonymous reports. In addition, NASA flight surgeons are prepared to sign documents stating this finding.

The flap over "drunken astronauts in space" is shown to be what it always seemed like to insiders: gossip. The original report of pre-flight intoxication was based on anonymous comments from within a tiny group of astronaut corps members or their families.

Heading up the investigation: astronaut Bryan O'Connor, known for his fact-based, no nonsense attitude. O'Connor, a former Navy test pilot, has flown two Space Shuttle missions among his more than 5,000 hours in more than 40 types of aircraft.

An expert in flight safety, O'Connor headed up key portions of the Challenger accident investigation. The current NASA investigation into the allegations of heavy drinking at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the Russian launch base in Kazakhstan is part of what some call NASA's "mental health check."

NASA has beeen hit hard recently with allegations about mental health issues in the astronaut corps. Fodder for comedians, former astronaut Lisa Nowak Lisa Nowak's arrest and upcoming trial for allegedly stalking and planning to harm love rival USAF Capt. Colleen Shipman was a major blow to NASA's "right stuff" image.

Further complicating things: the love triangle between the two women and Bill Oefelein , former astronaut Bill Oefelein. Olefelein's affairs with both women raised not only eyebrows, but also discussion of potential charges within the Military Code of Justice.

The anonymous allegations of drunken astronauts put NASA on a firing range, from hero agency to buffoon. Today, officials said that the alleged drinking never took place, and referred to urban legends about poisoned Halloween candy, saying that false stories are known to spread wildly.

The stresses of spaceflight and working in the highly-dangerous space busines are well known. Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon with Neil Armstrong during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, wrote about his bout with depression following that mission. Throughout the history of the space program, the high-flying demands have taken their toll on families as well as the astronauts themselves.

In one of the sadder stories from space, Blue Angels veteran and former astronaut Chuck Brady committed suicide in July 2006. Brady, who flew on the longest space shuttle mission, had left NASA and reportedly was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling immune system disorder.

However the majority of astronauts, such as Sen. John Glenn (R-Ohio) go on to have successful careers after spaceflight, either in NASA management or other fields. With NASA's remaining Space Shuttle flights and the drive to return to the moon, the agency is being extra-cautious in examining the overall health of its astronauts.

So far, no response from Russian officials about activities at their base has been reported.

The NASA news conference about the drinking investigation can be watched via NASA TV starting at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

As reported at The News is Now Public.