WHOA NELLIE!, ASTRONAUTS ON ALCOHOL?

• Jan. 17, 2006 7:15 p.m. ET
By Alan Boyle

Do astronauts and alcohol mix? There's another round of news reports from Russia about the prospects for bringing alcoholic beverages aboard the international space station — with an article in London's Sunday Telegraph leading the way. This time, the head of the cosmonaut corps at Russia's space training center is quoted as saying he'd let station residents sip about half a shot of cognac to celebrate New Year's or the end of a spacewalk.

Russian space officials are reportedly of the view that a little nip would help cosmonauts relax after a tough job — and could even "replenish one's strength." But champagne would remain a no-no, because the pressurized contents of a bottle could gum up the works in zero-gravity.

NASA, meanwhile, is sticking to its view that astronauts and alcohol should not mix. Reading between the lines, it appears that the Russians are giving an unofficial wink and a nod to an occasional drink, much as they did for operations on the long-gone Mir space station. Just don't expect to see NASA astronauts joining in the toasts.

In an e-mail, NBC News space analyst James Oberg said the Russians' reported stance "only endorses the unofficial practice in place for decades." As proof, he sent along a 1997 photo from Mir, accompanied by a drinking tale:

"As early as the mid-1980s, crews received treats on supply drones that included brandy-filled chocolates. The most famous 'space cognac' affair was in February 1997, aboard Mir, after a flash fire nearly killed the six crewmen (including American Jerry Linenger).

"That evening, space doctors instructed the crew to get out the secret bottle of cognac and take medicinal doses. Linenger declined, but photographed the others. The interesting angle is that the men drank the cognac through a straw.

"NASA refused to release the photographs, but I filed FOIA on them and got the images. One of them appeared in my 2002 book, 'Star-Crossed Orbits: Inside the U.S.-Russian Space Alliance,' the book that's still banned from NASA bookstores. That image is attached."

Are NASA officials just being nervous Nellies? What do you see as the pros and cons for alcoholic beverages in space?