NASA Puts ISS Astronauts on Evacuation Alert Due To Worsening Air Leak

NASA has ordered astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to shelter inside their spacecraft and prepare for a potential evacuation following a worsening air leak in the Russian segment of the orbital laboratory.

According to Reuters, a Russian crew is attempting to repair the leak on its portion of the orbital laboratory.

NASA and Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, have spent months debating the cause of and possible solutions to small air leaks in Russia’s Zvezda service module, a key component of the football field-sized laboratory, reported Reuters, citing a senior NASA official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The air leaks have been relatively minor in recent months but escalated on Monday from a pound of air per day to two pounds, according to the senior NASA official.

At 9:04 a.m. ET on Monday, the four astronauts of NASA’s Crew-12 mission were ordered by mission control to enter their docked Crew Dragon spacecraft and don their spacesuits, a NASA official said.

The four Crew-12 team consists of two American astronauts, one French astronaut, and one Russian cosmonaut.

NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said that the cracks have always been a concern that NASA watches very closely.

In a post on X, she said, “The Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, known as PrK, has suffered from cracks and leaks for some time, and has been mitigated by Roscosmos as much as possible to date. The cracks have always been a concern that NASA watches very closely. NASA and Roscosmos have been working to determine the root cause of the cracks, and Roscosmos manages the issue through operational mitigation measures and periodic partial-repair efforts.

“Following new leaks, Roscosmos has elected to proceed with a more extensive repair operation on Friday, June 5. Out of an abundance of caution, NASA has directed all four of the agency's SpaceX Crew-12 members and NASA astronaut Chris Williams to assume an elevated safety posture in the Dragon spacecraft while the repair is underway.

We continue to work with our Russian counterparts, along with the rest of the international community that supports the space station, to arrive at a more permanent resolution.”

NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said the agency has instructed astronauts to return to planned operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after Roscosmos paused its structural repair efforts.

“Roscosmos has paused Friday’s structural repair efforts inside the Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, known as PrK, as more measurements and data is assessed. Given this development, NASA has instructed the crew members inside the Dragon spacecraft to end the safe haven procedures and return to planned operations aboard the International Space Station. We look forward to working with Roscosmos on a collaborative approach to address the leaks,” She said in a post on X.

According to the Interfax news agency, ISS experts detected two oxygen leaks aboard the International Space Station, but there is no immediate threat to the crew. Roscosmos said the first leak was quickly sealed, while preparations are currently underway to seal the second leak.