Could You Hand Me that Screwdriver...

That isn't just a line used by an astronaut repairing the International Space Station. It could also be by one asking his crew another round of the boozies.

In a setback to NASA, Aviation Week ran a story about alcohol intoxication of astronauts flying the space shuttles in at least two occasions. The magazine reported that "heavy use of alcohol" is prevalent in many astronauts before launch, even within the 12-hour 'bottle-to-throttle' rule.

Now we know why astronauts occasionally vomits during flight. Motion sickness, my black hole.

Wii Telescope Remote

A bloke managed to make a RA-Dec controller for his Orion Atlas EQ-6 telescope using a Nintendo Wii remote.

Via Gizmodo.
Instructions for the mod here

China's Astronaut Food For Sale Soon

The Scientific Research and Training Center for Chinese Astronauts has announced that food designed to be carried by taikonauts - the Chinese equivalent for astronauts - into space will be available within the year in some supermarkets.

The space menu has around 60 dishes, including Cantaloupe chips and taro-stuffed mooncake (how appropriate).

It does not, however, include cardboard-stuffed buns and formaldehyde-laced candies.

NASA pays $19 Million for a Crapper

NASA announced today that it is buying a toilet system to be installed in the International Space Station for a cool $19 million. The Russian-built commode will be installed at the US-side of the space station in 2008.

It seems NASA still have the habit of flushing money down the toilet.

Genesis II in Orbit

An inflatable module for the Genesis II space station was successfully launched in orbit last June 28. The module was launched by a Russian Dnepr rocket from Yasny, Russia.

Genesis II is a private and commercial undertaking of Bigelow Aerospace, who envisions the station as a centerpiece for a space tourism project.