Persistent Air Leak Continues in Russian Segment of International Space Station

The International Space Station continues to experience an air leak in its Russian Zvezda module, despite recent repair efforts that have slowed the rate of air loss. Roscosmos executive director of manned space programs, Sergey Krikalyov, told reporters that while the crew believed they had sealed the last crack, ongoing monitoring revealed the leak persists. > "The leak is ongoing," Krikalyov said, adding that recent repairs have "seriously reduced the rate of air leakage."

The issue was first identified in September 2019 and traced to the vestibule connecting a docking port to the Zvezda module, which has been part of the station since 2000. According to a 2024 report, the rate of air loss has doubled over six years, prompting NASA to classify the situation as its highest risk level. Disagreements between NASA and Roscosmos remain regarding the cause and solution for the leak.

In June, NASA postponed the Axiom 4 private mission to the ISS after sensors detected a new pressure signal in the Zvezda module, initially raising hopes that the leak had been sealed. However, subsequent observations confirmed the problem remains. Krikalyov emphasized the importance of preventing similar issues in future space stations and noted that, if necessary, the agencies could agree to permanently close the hatch to the affected module. This action would reduce the number of available docking ports but would not otherwise impact ISS operations.