Booze on ISS

[krrr]

Link.<br /><br />The strict prohibition on ISS might be abolished in the very near future.<br /><br />Note that John Phillips spoke in favor of allowing alcohol (small quantities, of course) on ISS after his return.

 

[CalliArcale]

The crew of Apollo 8 carried small single-serving bottles of brandy along for their Christmas dinner in lunar orbit. And of course it is known that alcohol (including quite strong liquor) found its way aboard Mir despite Russian rules against it. I would not be surprised if there hasn't already been alcohol on board the ISS. They might as well allow small, well-regulated amounts of it. I would firmly support a "no drunkenness" policy, but I expect astronauts to be sufficiently mature to know how to moderate themselves. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[tplank]

In my view, any place where beer can not be tolerated is so fundamentally inhospitable to the human species as to render further research futile. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[yurkin]

Do you think your tolerance would change in space? I think it would drop because of the reduced blood pressure.

 

[spacefire]

what about pot?<br />an experiment to study if weightlessness makes inhaled drugs more potent?<br />Astronaut Jimglen ready for the mission? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[tplank]

Clearly, smoking of any kind should only be permitted outside. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[teije]

Calli:<br /><font color="yellow">I would not be surprised if there hasn't already been alcohol on board the ISS. </font><br /><br />Of course. You can't deny a Russian his vodka.<br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[vt_hokie]

I'd like to see them land a space shuttle with a BAC above 0.08! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[tplank]

Seriously though, denying the space farer alcohol or drugs is irrational as it is on planet Earth. We need to leave this silliness grounded.<br /><br />Of course there are bigger risks in space, or at least there are in current modes of transportation. But if someone is so unbalanced as to get totally blasted before taking a shift monitoring the nuclear reactor, then they shouldn't be there in the first place. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>But it has to be considered that alcohol effects are very much affected by atmosphere and pressure. This is one of the reasons why so many borderline drunks pass aileline security and then go nuts at altitude.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Definitely. It's a serious problem. Of course, the other problem with the borderline drunks is that they get on the plane and then keep drinking out of boredom. Worse still is the ones who are getting drunk on purpose because they're afraid of flying. Being afraid can make a person very irritable; add alcohol, and they can become very dangerously belligerent.<br /><br />I doubt an astronaut or cosmonaut would have the latter problem, though. They tend to be very level headed. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[priusguy]

<b>In my view, any place where beer can not be tolerated is so fundamentally inhospitable to the human species as to render further research futile.</b><br /><br />Most of Middle East?

 

[skyone]

"what about pot? "<br /><br />We need crack. More potent, improves payload mass fraction AND, in its crystallized form, will not crumble as pot would, potentially finding its way into, and fouling equiptment.

 

[tplank]

I said "any place". That is my position and I am standing by it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

By that definition the US navy would also be an area unfit for human existance. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[rocketwatcher2001]

<font color="yellow">By that definition the US navy would also be an area unfit for human existance.</font><br /><br />The U.S. Navy serves 2 beers per man to the crew of an aircraft Carrier during a "Steel Beach Picnic" if they have been out at sea for a certain time, it's 45 or 60 days. USS INDEPENDENCE always found a way to get into port just before we were due for a "Steel Beech" with beer.<br /><br />The Navy is tough, but it is civilized. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[quasar2]

i seem to recall when i recently read "House in Space". i believe it was 3rd crew Skylab let their beards grow fairly long, & were a bit testy w/ MC. this would be a a natural evolution of any effort of this nature. naturally, hemp will be grown in space, owing to it`s many uses. there will be casinos. mail-order brides. i laugh often @ those who think future OuterSpace civilization will be utopian & perfectly ordered. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[steve82]

They do have some alcohol wipes onboard that can only be used very judiciously. The ECLSS is limited in how much vapor it can handle.<br /><br />One wonders if the ethanol RCS fuel the CEV is to carry will start disappearing when it docks with the ISS the way nails used to disappear from Captain Cook's ships when he visited the islands. <br /><br />

 

[lampblack]

Floating along at 17,000 miles per hour -- puts a whole new perspective on the idea of "drinking and driving." <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[lampblack]

<font color="yellow">I'd like to see them land a space shuttle with a BAC above 0.08!</font><br /><br />hey... as long as they don't let any ethanol drip into the nooks and crannies of the flight computers, they'd be fine! <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Waiting 60 days for two beers is definitely not civilised! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[tplank]

Beer is space is sadly problematic without artificial gravity. I'm a homebrewer and I read a few years ago that some Aussies (gotta love those good folk) were supposedly working on beer packaging suitable for space. I have no idea if that went any where or not.<br /><br />I have no doubt ethanol would work for getting drunk but would not compare to the experience of quality quaffables. I think in a time where we are talking about long term trips to Mars and such, the simple pleasures such as these must be considered. I worry more about someone going bonkers who doesn't have access to any earth bound pleasures than I do someone getting toasted on ethanol and wrecking havoc.<br /><br />And yes, the Navy is properly considered outside of civilization. The beer rule has held for many millennia. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[spacefire]

centrifuges? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[tplank]

I was thinking specifically of the drinking of the beer. Brewing obviously presents a whole new set of problems. I'm sure someone here has an idea of how well a large yeast culture would perform in zero G. My amateur wisdom would suggest that the yeast would not perform the same way because the CO2 would remain in solution rather than bubbling out as it does here on Earth. I am uncertain as to what adverse impact high CO2 concentrations would have during fermentation. Now I suppose as the pressure rises above a threshold a pressure release valve could be developed.<br /><br />There are other issue with how the dead yeast is removed from the culture though that could possibly be dealt with. Perhaps simple filtering would work though my preference for unfiltered live beers makes me wince at the thought. The dead yeast would make a great addition to the "compost pile" or whatever they would be using to grow veggies in transit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Supposedly Guinness was working on a zero-gee delivery system for their special nitrogenated beer, although iI believe they largely intended it as a publicity stunt. (They're serious about their publicity stunts, though. Just look at their most famous one: the Guinness Book of World Records.) I don't know whether or not it actually flew, nor whether or not it was successful if indeed it did fly.<br /><br />Guinness in space....now that's civilized. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[rocketwatcher2001]

jon-<br />It's not like a regular 60 days, remember you're within arms reach of TF-30 afterburners on the F-14 which make the absence of beer much more easy, almost too easy. Now I'm not going to say that I was ever sorry we pulled into port, with the exception of Puson Korea, but being out at sea and getting a face full of afterburner first degree burns is pretty cool. There were days that I looked like a racoon, the skin around my eyes was white thanks to my goggles, the skin around my goggles would be beet red and would turn a sun-tanned brown the next day. <br /><br />That was so cool, I'd go back in a heartbeat. My seabag is packed and ready to go.<br /><br /><br />tplank-<br />The Navy stopped serving a daily alcohol ration during the Civil War. It was at this point that ships became more industrial and sailors needed to be more "technician" than "sailor". Drinking a grog ration made a sailor dangerous on a steamship. That was the time when the Navy replaced Rum with Coffee. They figured a stimulent was better than a depressant, and I have to agree with them. Drinking water was still unhealthy on a ship because it was usually casks of river water, but when the riverwater was boiled to make coffee, it killed the bugs that made sailors sick, just like mixing the water with rum killed the bugs. This was before Lois Pastour, and thank God for him, because how much has his work improved our lives? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>