NASA is monitoring leaks in the Russian module of the International Space Station, where air has been leaking at an increasing rate for almost four years. The space agency acknowledged that the leak was increasing, while claiming that there was no threat to the astronauts on board.
Josea International Space Station Program Manager Joel Montalbano revealed at a press conference Wednesday that the rate of air leaks in the Zvezda service module has doubled, from one pound per day to "a little over two pounds per day," according to SpacePolicyOnline.
The leak, first reported by the Russian Aerospace Agency in August 2020, was discovered in the Russian Zvezda life support module, which Russia launched into low-Earth orbit in July 2000. The leak occurred in the vestibule (named PRK) between the docking port and the rest of the module. The module contains vital life support systems that staff use as a critical support center in the event of an emergency.
About a week before the launch of the Progress MS-26 cargo spacecraft, docked at the tail of Zvezda on Feb. 14, the leak rate had risen. When the crew unloaded the cargo from the Progress MS-26 onto the space station, the hatch connecting the module to the ISS remained open for five days, but has been closed ever since.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Aerocosmos also acknowledged the air leak, adding that its crew is regularly identifying the source and repairing possible leaks on the ISS, Russia's official TASS news agency reported. The space agency added that the leak would not pose a threat to the crew or the space station itself.
NASA also stressed that the crew and space station are safe at the moment. According to Space News, Montalbano said at a briefing on Wednesday: "The team is watching. We are working with our Russian colleagues on the next step. ”。This will not affect the safety of the crew or the operation of the vehicle. ”
This is not the only leak detected by Russian hardware on the ISS. In December 2022, a team on the ground observed a particle fountain gushing out of the Soyuz spacecraft docked to the International Space Station. In February 2023, shortly after docking with the International Space Station, a Russian Progress 82 freighter also began leaking coolant. In October 2023, coolant leaks began from the backup radiator of the Russian Nauka module installed outside the module. Russia blames external influences for the leak, but three incidents in a row indicate a potential manufacturing flaw.
The International Space Station has been in low-Earth orbit for more than 20 years, housing astronauts conducting research in a microgravity environment. By 2030, the space station will be decommissioned, dismantling its ancient hardware to make room for newer commercial space stations. Until then, it is hoped that the aging space station will be consistent with the crew on board.