NASA Orders Temporary Safe Haven for Astronauts Aboard ISS Due to Air Leaks
NASA instructed astronauts on the International Space Station to take refuge in their Crew Dragon spacecraft amid concerns over escalating air leaks. After a brief period of heightened precautions, normal operations resumed.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) were temporarily ordered to shelter in their Crew Dragon spacecraft due to increasing air leaks. NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens indicated that this decision was made "out of an abundance of caution" while Russian cosmonauts attempted to repair the leaks.
Approximately 90 minutes after the initial directive, Stevens announced that Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, had suspended its repair efforts, allowing the crew to return to their regular activities on the ISS. The leaks, which had recently worsened from one pound of air loss per day to two pounds, are primarily coming from Russia's Zvezda service module, a critical component of the ISS.
A senior NASA official explained that discussions between NASA and Roscosmos regarding the leaks had been ongoing for some time. The Russian cosmonauts were considering using a saw to access the leaks, but NASA disagreed with this approach. Stevens noted that the agency is closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the collaborative efforts between NASA and Roscosmos to find a solution. The ISS, launched in 1998, has hosted long-term human occupancy since 2000 and has never required evacuation despite its operational history spanning 27 years.