Live in DC: Astronauts and alcohol

Live: Refresh this page for periodic updates and the latest still image from NASA TV. Click on the picture for a larger view. You can also click here to play NASA TV live video in a 2nd smaller window.

Here's the early report from Eun Kim, our correspondent in Washington ...

The head of the panel that raised allegations about drunk astronauts flying spacecraft defended the findings today as NASA repeated claims they failed to find evidence of such incidents.

"Public statements that such things are simply impossible, challenging the veracity of the findings, referring to them as nothing more as urban legends, rather than acknowledging how difficult raising such concerns can be, do not encourage openness and safety," said Col. Richard Bachmann, the military doctor who led an independent panel to examine the availability of physical and mental health resources for astronauts.

Bachmann said NASA's response to his panel's claims hinder the bigger concern at issue, the hesitancy of agency employees to raise safety concerns because of widespread fear of retribution for bringing problems to light.

The report was released this summer after the arrest of former astronaut Lisa Nowak, who is accused of stalking a romantic rival.

Rep. Mark Udall, the Colorado Democrat who chairs the House Science and Technology subcommittee considering the matter, said his decision to hold the hearing was not for obvious reasons.

"We do a real disservice to the independent review committee if we ignore the warning flags they are raising about the state of communications within the agency on both medical and behavioral matters affecting the astronauts," he said.

NASA administrator Michael Griffin, who recently compared the allegations of intoxicated astronauts to urban legends, was also scheduled to testify.