Uh-oh, the International Space Station is leaking again
Summary
NASA confirmed that the Russian part of the International Space Station (ISS) is leaking air again from the PrK module, despite recent repairs. The leak is slow and not currently affecting astronauts or station operations, but it raises concerns about the station’s long-term safety and usability.Key Facts
- The leak is happening in the Russian PrK module, a tunnel connected to the Zvezda Service Module.
- NASA and Roscosmos (the Russian space agency) have been tracking this leak for over five years.
- The leak was thought to be fixed in January after inspections and sealant applications.
- The leak returned around May 1st, causing a slow drop in pressure.
- The pressure is now kept lower in the affected area, with small repressurizations as needed.
- The leak rate is about one pound of air lost per day.
- NASA says the leak does not impact the astronauts or station operations currently.
- The ISS has modules that have been in space for almost 30 years, raising concerns about aging hardware.
- NASA and partners are debating whether to extend the ISS’s life beyond 2030, possibly to 2032 or longer.
- NASA plans to eventually replace the ISS with privately owned space stations, but plans face challenges.
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