After shocking the world of science last month with its announcement that it had found water on the moon, NASA officials yesterday appeared more subdued as they revealed that the substance they had originally reported to be water smelled an awful lot like – and would very likely turn out to be – peppermint schnapps.

The lunar vehicle responsible for having collected the sample also had several drops of the “sticky” substance on its exterior, which officials reported to be consistent with the kind that might be found scattered about a coffee table after a late-night party.

During the press conference it was also revealed that once cameras on Earth had been turned off on the night of the first lunar landing in 1969, a party did ensue among the astronauts that included music, some high-wire dancing and, not surprisingly, peppermint schnapps. A person familiar with the matter said the crew was known for its ability to party into the night.

“How the heck do you think a guy gets the nickname of Buzz?” asked one anonymous source, referring to Buzz Aldrin, the famed astronaut who participated in the first lunar landing.

While most of the topics at the short press conference centered on peppermint schnapps, one official did express relief at the finding. “I thought it might have been something else. You know, like maybe we brought back some water of the human kind, if you know what I mean,” he said.

Employees at EMT, Inc. were treated to an open bar for 15 minutes at Dirty Dave’s Dive Bar before being whisked away to an all-expenses-paid dinner at Taco Bell – all part of the company’s way of saying thank you for all of the extra overtime and for sticking it out despite three involuntary pay decreases this past year.

“Pretty simply, this is our way of saying thank you and doing it with a little style,” said company CEO Art Flank through the rolled-down window of his 2010 Mercedes. “We hope that after this nice evening and the 15-minute open bar that everybody here knows just how much we appreciate everything they do.”

Accounts Receivable Manager Stan Jordan, who has seen his pay decrease by more than 33 percent this year, said company officials bragged heavily about the upcoming Christmas party in the weeks leading up to the event. “Mr. Flank had the ‘Volcano’ menu practically memorized,” said Jordan. “Then he kept on telling me how the caramel apple empanada goes down smooth with a glass of milk later,” he continued.

Moods had been a bit somber at EMT since the company began a series of layoffs in September in an effort to improve morale.