Russia lets cosmonauts drink - but they musn't go into orbit

[emad]

Simon Saradzhyan in Moscow
(Filed: 15/01/2006)

After years of official prohibition, cosmonauts will soon be able to unwind with a drink after a hard day at the International Space Station.

In a country where vodka is consumed in industrial quantities, officials at Russia's medical space research establishment said the consumption of alcohol in space was not only a right but a positive advantage.

"Folks are flying in orbit for half a year or so," a spokesman said. "They do tons of work. Especially exhausting are space walks where they can lose several kilos in several hours. That's why, many of us think that it won't be that bad to have a little drink to replenish one's strength."

Russian cosmonauts and space officials welcomed the idea of lifting the ban, but cautioned that weightlessness multiplies the effect of alcohol.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/01/15/wruss15.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/01/15/ixworld.html

[YOY]

1. Yes after loosing several kilos of water it's great to use a wonderful

hydrating agent like HARD ALCHOHOL!

Jesus, that's just stupid.

[Rowdyboy]

2. Klingon bloodwine maybe, or Knarr......

I've been watching entirely too much Star Trek!

[Spinzonner]

3. How will they do sobriety tests ?

See if they can float a straight line ?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. That Must Be Awesome... Bein Drunk In Space.

Now that would be one hell of an experience :)