Drunken Astronauts...
... a recent new story covers the emerging scandal of "drunken astronauts" flying into space. Apparently over the years, some NASA astronauts had consumed alcohol within 12 hours of their launch time.
Of note, none of the stories detail what the blood alcohol content of the astronauts were, what NASA considers to be a high or inappropriate BAC for an astronaut in flight, or if the incidents involved any of those piloting the craft.
Firstly, let me say that anybody who is either brave or crazy enough to strap their butt to a 10-story tall, 535,000 gallon liquid hydrogen bomb in the midst of a controlled explosion deserves a drink the night before. Note well, these people are not truck drivers or even airline pilots - they are ASTRONAUTS with highly specialized training. There are 6,600,000,000 people on earth, only 460 have ever gone into space - that is less than a billionth of 1%.
Secondly, while routine, space travel is not safe, let me repeat, not safe - it truly falls into the category of risky behavior. Aside from "tippin' the bottle", an even greater risk is posed by dropping foam panels, birds, space debris, computer failure, mechanical failure, etc. Again, when your heiney is plastered into the back of your seat while going 7 miles a second (that's 25,000 mph to you and me), there's not much anyone can do that hasn't already been programmed by Mission Control until they reach orbit.
So, c'mon News Media... lighten up! Aside from the OMG factor, there are bigger fish to fry than Astronauts who had a drink the night before they flew. Iraq may be getting old, but it still qualifies as much more news worthy.
Of note, none of the stories detail what the blood alcohol content of the astronauts were, what NASA considers to be a high or inappropriate BAC for an astronaut in flight, or if the incidents involved any of those piloting the craft.
Firstly, let me say that anybody who is either brave or crazy enough to strap their butt to a 10-story tall, 535,000 gallon liquid hydrogen bomb in the midst of a controlled explosion deserves a drink the night before. Note well, these people are not truck drivers or even airline pilots - they are ASTRONAUTS with highly specialized training. There are 6,600,000,000 people on earth, only 460 have ever gone into space - that is less than a billionth of 1%.
Secondly, while routine, space travel is not safe, let me repeat, not safe - it truly falls into the category of risky behavior. Aside from "tippin' the bottle", an even greater risk is posed by dropping foam panels, birds, space debris, computer failure, mechanical failure, etc. Again, when your heiney is plastered into the back of your seat while going 7 miles a second (that's 25,000 mph to you and me), there's not much anyone can do that hasn't already been programmed by Mission Control until they reach orbit.
So, c'mon News Media... lighten up! Aside from the OMG factor, there are bigger fish to fry than Astronauts who had a drink the night before they flew. Iraq may be getting old, but it still qualifies as much more news worthy.
posted by kenkramar at 7:11 PM
2 comments
