▼ Summary
– NASA has delayed a crew launch to the International Space Station due to a new leak, with limited details released about the situation.
– The leak involves aging hardware in the Russian Zvezda module, which has had persistent air leaks since 2019 in its transfer tunnel (PrK).
– Previous repairs by Russian cosmonauts have only slowed the leaks, which lose a few pounds of air daily, leading to the PrK hatch being closed except during dockings.
– Roscosmos and NASA recently completed repairs on the PrK module, claiming it was “completely sealed” and the leak rate had halted.
– Despite the PrK repairs, the overall station air pressure continues to drop, raising questions about the source of the ongoing issue.
A fresh air leak has been detected aboard the International Space Station, prompting NASA to postpone an upcoming crew launch while keeping details about the situation closely guarded. Multiple reliable sources indicate this latest development poses significant challenges for the aging orbital outpost, with some components now approaching 30 years of service.
The station’s structural integrity has been under scrutiny since 2019, when a persistent slow leak was first identified in the Russian Zvezda service module’s transfer tunnel, a critical passageway linking the module to docking ports for Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. Known as PrK in Russian terminology, this section has been a recurring trouble spot, with cosmonauts attempting periodic repairs to address hairline cracks. While these efforts temporarily reduced the leakage rate, estimated at a few pounds of air per day, the issue persisted, leading crews to keep the PrK hatch sealed except during spacecraft arrivals.
Recent repairs appeared promising. Earlier this month, Roscosmos declared the PrK module fully sealed, and NASA confirmed the work had been completed. Both agencies reported the leak rate within the module had dropped to zero. Yet despite these assurances, internal pressure across the broader station continued declining, raising new questions. If the primary leak source was resolved, what could explain the ongoing pressure loss?
The discrepancy suggests another, as-yet-unidentified leak may exist elsewhere in the complex. With the ISS relying on tightly controlled atmospheric conditions to support its crew, even minor pressure changes demand urgent attention. NASA’s reluctance to disclose specifics hints at the sensitivity of the situation, particularly as engineers work to pinpoint the cause without disrupting ongoing operations.
As the station’s hardware ages, such incidents highlight the growing maintenance challenges facing the multinational partnership. While temporary fixes have kept the ISS operational, the latest leak underscores the need for more permanent solutions, or raises the question of how much longer the venerable laboratory can continue its mission.
(Source: Ars Technica)
