Air leak raises evacuation concerns aboard International Space Station
NASA has instructed astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to prepare for a possible emergency evacuation as engineers work to address a worsening air leak in the Russian segment of the orbiting laboratory.
According to reports, mission controllers directed the four members of NASA’s Crew-12 mission, two American astronauts, a French astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut, to enter the docked Crew Dragon spacecraft and don full spacesuits as a precautionary measure.
The order was issued by NASA’s Mission Control Center at 9:04 a.m. EDT today (Monday), amid concerns that the air leak could deteriorate and require a rapid evacuation of part or all of the station.
NASA and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, have been investigating recurring air leaks in the Russian-built Zvezda service module for several months.
The module is a critical component of the ISS, providing life-support systems, crew accommodations and operational support for the station.
While the leak remains under assessment, Russian crews have been carrying out repair efforts in an attempt to contain the problem and ensure the continued safety of astronauts on board, according to news reports.
The International Space Station, a multinational scientific research facility orbiting approximately 400 kilometers above Earth, has been continuously inhabited by international crews for more than two decades.
Officials emphasized that precautionary procedures are standard practice whenever potential risks to crew safety arise.
