Produced by: Tarun Mishra
NASA is addressing a persistent air leak in the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), initially detected in the Zvezda module’s PrK vestibule in 2019. Efforts have been ongoing to investigate and mitigate the issue.
By April 2024, NASA’s Office of Inspector General reported that the leak had worsened, with a loss of nearly 1.7 kilograms of air per day. This prompted the ISS program to classify it as a high-risk concern. Currently 7 people, including Sunita Williams are staying on board space station.
Despite the severity, NASA officials have noted significant progress, with recent repairs reducing the leak rate by approximately one-third. Investigations continue to identify the root cause, focusing on internal and external welds.
Credit: NASA
As a precaution, the station’s crew keeps the hatch to the affected area closed when not in use to limit the leak’s impact on the station’s operations. This measure has helped mitigate some of the immediate risks.
Credit: NASA
If the leak rate increases, NASA and Roscosmos may permanently seal the hatch to prevent further air loss. However, this would result in the loss of a docking port for Russian Progress and Soyuz spacecraft.
While the air leak is a significant concern, no immediate threat to astronauts like Sunita Williams has been reported. NASA and Roscosmos are closely monitoring the situation to ensure crew safety and station integrity.
Credit: NASA
The leak is one of several challenges NASA faces as it works to maintain ISS operations until 2030. Other issues include supply chain constraints, orbital debris risks, and certifying Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner for crew transport.
As the ISS nears the end of its operational life, NASA has contracted SpaceX to develop a deorbit vehicle based on the Dragon spacecraft. However, the project faces potential budget and scheduling risks as NASA works to ensure a safe transition.