I've always been skeptical of the "drunk astronauts" story, and think that the media (and Congress) were far too quick to jump on it, since it was never substantiated. It just never really rang true to me. Unfortunately, NASA has been put in the impossible position of having to prove a negative, and there will now be people who will believe it as gospel (just as many will continue to believe that NASA never put men on the moon).

And I have to say that I sympathize with members of the astronaut corps who are justifiably pissed off about it.

But it angers me for another reason. There are so many legitimate issues and problems with the agency, that nonsense like this and crazy astronauts distracts us from dealing with them. Yet another reason to hope for needed breakthroughs in the private sector.

Hey Rand,

Your link, identified as "justifiably pissed off about it", doesn't appear to be working.

"Yet another reason to hope for needed breakthroughs in the private sector."

Much as I like breaththroughs in the private sector, I doubt that such are a guaruntee of not having any astronauts who are drunk and/or nuts.

Much as I like breaththroughs in the private sector, I doubt that such are a guaruntee of not having any astronauts who are drunk and/or nuts.,/em>

Well, if I'd made such a ridiculous claim as to say they were, you might have a point, Mark. As it is, you don't.

Rand may have been referring to this:

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/28/337183.aspx

Alan Bean had much stronger things to say about the report, but the quotes weren't fit for a family Web site. ;-)