NASA and Roscosmos Address Worsening ISS Leak Amid Safety Concerns
NASA has provided an update on the ongoing air leak issue within the International Space Station's Zvezda service module, managed by Russia's Roscosmos. The leak, originating from the PrK transfer tunnel, has been a concern since 2019. Recently, during operations involving the Progress 95 spacecraft, the leak rate increased to approximately two pounds per day, prompting further investigation. In response, Roscosmos planned a more extensive inspection and structural repair, which included cutting a bracket to access potential leak areas. However, due to potential structural risks, NASA directed astronauts to take precautionary measures by sheltering in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Roscosmos later paused the repair work to gather more data, with NASA supporting this decision. The astronauts have since returned to normal operations.