NASA astronauts take refuge in Dragon capsule amid Russian repair plans for ISS leak
NASA moved crew members into a docked Dragon spacecraft after Russian cosmonauts prepared to cut a load-bearing bracket in a leaking ISS module, prompting a temporary stand-down of the repair.
NASA announced on June 5 that five astronauts from the Crew-12 mission and astronaut Chris Williams would shelter inside a docked Dragon capsule as a precaution while Russian engineers addressed a persistent air leak in the PrK tunnel that links the Zvezda module to the station’s aft docking port. The decision followed reports that Roscosmos was considering the use of a drill and a “drill stop” device to punch through the module wall, or a handsaw to remove a load-bearing bracket, actions NASA officials deemed risky.
"We felt there was a very high probability of a bad outcome happening if they sawed that bracket off," a NASA source told Ars Technica.
"We threatened we would put astronauts in suits, in Dragon, to send a message to the world that we disagreed," a NASA official said to the same outlet.
The tension between the agencies reportedly eased after NASA’s precautionary move, leading Roscosmos to pause its repair efforts. The PrK tunnel is slated for de-pressurisation and eventual decommissioning, which could limit access to the attached docking port. European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen said the station could continue operating if the module were sealed off, while acknowledging the potential for additional issues.
Both NASA and Roscosmos have declined to provide detailed comments on the incident, and the long-term solution for the aging International Space Station’s leak problems remains under discussion.