New astronaut survey assesses health, safety , alcohol use

(CNN) A new survey of active-duty astronauts and flight surgeons has turned up only one incident of a drug or alcohol impairment related to a launch - a case in which a person was seen to be impaired in the time leading up to the launch because an apparent interaction between prescription medication and alcohol.

"Medical personnel in performing their routine preflight monitoring assessed the situation and determined there was no impact to flight readiness, or risk to safe operations," said astronaut Ellen Ochoa, who is also deputy director of the Johnson Space Center, during a teleconference with reporters held after the survey was released. "We really can't say too much else due to medical privacy."

The few details available seem to suggest a simple mistake rather than a binge drinking episode. The incident did not occur on a launch day, and survey respondents were unanimous in indicating that none of them had ever observed an intoxicated crew member on a launch day.