NASA is closely monitoring a growing air leak on the Russian module of the International Space Station (ISS). The leak, which has been occurring for nearly four years, is increasing in rate and has raised concerns about the safety of the astronauts on board. Despite this, NASA assures that the leak does not pose an immediate threat to the crew.
The leak is located in the Zvezda service module, a Russian module that was launched to low Earth orbit in July 2000. It is situated in a vestibule named Prk, which is between the docking port and the rest of the module. The Zvezda module plays a crucial role in providing life support systems and serves as a critical support hub in emergencies.
According to NASA ISS Program Manager Joel Montalbano, the rate of air leakage has doubled from one pound per day to “a little over two pounds a day.” This increase in leakage was observed around a week before the launch of the Progress MS-26 cargo spacecraft on February 14. The hatch connecting the module to the ISS was left open for five days during the cargo offloading process but has since been closed.
The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, also acknowledged the air leak and stated that its crew is actively working to identify the source and fix any possible leaks on the ISS. They emphasized that there is no immediate danger to the crew or the space station itself.
This is not the first time that leaks have been detected from Russian hardware on the ISS. In December 2022, ground teams observed particles pouring out from a Soyuz spacecraft docked to the ISS. In February 2023, a Russian Progress 82 freighter also started leaking coolant shortly after docking. In October 2023, the backup radiator of Russia’s Nauka module began leaking coolant as well. Russia has attributed these leaks to external impacts, but the consecutive incidents raise concerns about potential manufacturing defects.
The ISS has been in low Earth orbit for over 20 years and has served as a research facility for astronauts conducting experiments in a microgravity environment. However, it is scheduled to retire in 2030, making way for newer commercial space stations. Until then, it is crucial for the aging space station to remain functional and safe for the crew on board.
As NASA and Roscosmos continue to monitor the air leak and work towards resolving the issue, the safety of the astronauts remains a top priority. The teams are collaborating to determine the next steps and ensure that crew safety and vehicle operations are not compromised.
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