Concerns over space shuttle workers getting high on the job
Building reliable space shuttles have come a long way at NASA. However, because of the nature and complexity of the shuttles, reducing human error can be a big factor in ensuring the safety of the astronauts. It seems like there are some concerns over at NASA after some drugs were found on the premise.
Memories of the space shuttle Columbia disaster are still fresh in many people’s minds especially considering it only happened seven short years ago. Since then the space shuttle program has been running under tight scrutiny after the program finally resumed after a long suspension.
One of the biggest criticisms or doubts thrown at the space program is in regards to improving quality by ensuring human error does not play into the equation. It seems like this concern may pop up once again with the LA Times reporting that NASA has launched an investigation into the discovery of cocaine on the NASA premise.
There is some suspicion that one or more of the employees working on the space shuttle have been getting high while on the job. Apparently a shuttle worker found a plastic bag with some white powder residue right outside the shuttle processing hanger at the Kennedy Space Center recently.
NASA security promptly yanked 200 of the workers on the premise to give them a drug test. According to the Space Center spokeswoman Lisa Malone, the cocaine was found right outside the bathrooms and a janitor’s closet. In order to get to this area workers must swipe their ID cards to get in.
According to NASA spokesman Allard Beutel, if anyone is found to be connected to the cocaine found on site, the employee will be immediately handed over to federal prosecutors. Bob Cabana, director of the Kennedy Space Center stated that illegal substance abuse will not be tolerated especially for those working on the orbiter.
With only a few short months left until the March launch to the International Space Station, nerves are running high. Beutel indicated that everyone knows that for the type of work that is done there is no margin for error.
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January 18th, 2010
sir ,
my name is amit parihar .actually i m interested in nasa so i collect information about space shuttle . so sir can you tell me that how the space shuttle works & how rockets works in space,
January 18th, 2010
wahahaha snorting coke while riding the shuttle – getting high takes on a whole new meaning hehehe