Cocaine Found In Shuttle Processing Facility
Written by Nancy Atkinson
Orbiter Processing Facility at KSC. Credit: NASA
A small amount of cocaine was found in a restricted area of the processing hangar for shuttle Discovery at Kennedy Space Center, NASA is launching an extensive investigation into the incident. KSC spokeswoman Lisa Malone said the substance was found by a United Space Alliance worker in a hallway outside two bathrooms and a janitor’s closet, in an area where workers have to swipe their identification cards to enter. Every one of the approximately 200 people who were in the Orbital Processing Facility 3 would be easily identified, NASA says, and added Discovery's planned launch in March should not be impacted by this event.
"This is a rare and isolated incident, and I'm disappointed that it happened, but it should not detract from the outstanding work that is being done by a dedicated team on a daily basis," Kennedy Space
Center Director Bob Cabana said. "We are conducting an investigation and working with center security and law enforcement officials to get to the bottom of it. We have multiple checks and balances in place to ensure the work on the orbiter is done correctly, and I have no concern for Discovery's fitness for flight."
While there are no indications anyone who was working on Discovery was under the influence of any illegal substances, drug testing of personnel who were in that area has been conducted. Drug-sniffing dogs were immediately called in to check out the employees, but found nothing.
NASA said extensive efforts are being made to ensure flight hardware and equipment that will be used by astronauts on Discovery's upcoming STS-131 mission are completely safe.
"We have processes that will ensure the integrity of the shuttle," Cabana said. "There is no reason whatsoever to believe this incident will have any impact on Discovery's upcoming launch."
Meticulous records are kept on all work that is performed. Shuttle safety and quality assurance teams have the capability to trace individuals' work in detail. In addition, most work tasks are reviewed and approved by one, and sometimes two, quality inspectors and specialists who verify proper work was done on critical flight hardware.
Sources: NASA, Orlando Sentinel
Filed under: NASA, Space Shuttle
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January 14th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Some people will stop at nothing to find a perfect rocket fuel.
January 14th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
The only perfect rocket fuel that I know of is Slivovitz.
January 14th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
When a hundred million miles up isn't high enough…
January 14th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
"NASA management was puzzled at first when it was demonstrated that Fred could attach a booster rocket to the shuttle all by himself with no special equipment of any kind…"
January 15th, 2010 at 5:06 am
This is not surprising. I can relate an experience, having worked for XYZ aerospace corporation. I don't want to divulge the name here. Some people, including upper management, would toot up coke on the job. This goes back a ways in the 1990s when cocaine still had an elitist connotation, and it was a way some people could remain "pumped" for longer time periods and put in 16 hour days.
LC
January 15th, 2010 at 6:36 am
What do you want to bet the final investigation report released to the public will say something like, it was left behind as a prank by an employee who quit working there.
January 15th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
so what? does cocaine corrode thermal tiles or something?
get a grip, america. the guy's job performance would be enhanced, if anything.
but we'll all enthusiastically accept chugging down coffee to keep ourselves going at work, no problem. how many times have you heard someone blame, jokingly or otherwise, a lack of caffeine for an absent-minded mistake?
January 16th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Sad, but ineviable. I wonder, who will be the first person caught with possession in space? Or has it happened, ever so quietly, all ready? Those six month missions on the ISS but get long and boring.
January 17th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
"# IVAN3MAN Says:
January 14th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
"The only perfect rocket fuel that I know of is Slivovitz."
Allow me to inform you of another – Mampoer, distilled in dodgy illegal setups in South Africa will literally asphyxiate you and kick you in the nuts at the same time. It is the second most offensive liquid to the human body known to man – the first being VX nerve agent.