Authorities Find Cocaine in Space Shuttle Hangar : Drugs: An investigation is launched after a small amount of the narcotic is found in a desk used by several people. No arrests have been made.

A small amount of cocaine was found here in a hangar where space shuttles are readied for launch, NASA officials said Sunday.

Space agency spokesman Karl Kristofferson said the drug was found early Friday in an orbiter processing facility, one of two at the space center.

It is the first time cocaine has been found at the Kennedy Space Center.

In 1985, marijuana plants were discovered growing in isolated areas of the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge where the space center is located, but the case did not involve NASA personnel.

NASA spokesman Hugh Harris said the cocaine was found under a desk that is used by more than one person.

“It is a very small amount,” Harris said. “Security doesn’t want to talk about any details until they do more of their investigation.”

NASA spokeswoman Lisa Malone told the Florida Today newspaper Saturday that the drug seizure “is considered an isolated incident.”

Malone said she did not know how much cocaine was involved. Officials said they did not yet know who owned the drug, and no arrests have been made.

The investigation is led by security officers from NASA, Lockheed Space Operations Co. and EG&G; Florida Inc.

Lockheed is responsible for overall shuttle processing at the Kennedy Space Center under a multibillion-dollar contract, while EG&G; is responsible for base operations, including security.

Malone initially said the cocaine was discovered by drug-sniffing dogs during a routine sweep, but Harris said no dogs were involved.

“The security people don’t want to say how it was found,” Harris said.