Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have been instructed to seek refuge in their spacecraft due to a worsening air leak that has raised safety concerns on the orbiting facility.
The issue is affecting a section of the station’s Russian segment, where a crew member is working on repairs, according to NASA. The space agency has cautioned the crew to be ready for a potential evacuation if the situation escalates. The leak has been identified in the Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, a narrow pressurized passage at the rear of the ISS.
NASA’s Crew-12 mission members, including two US astronauts, a French astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut, were directed by NASA mission control to enter their Crew Dragon spacecraft at 9:04 am ET (13:04 GMT), and put on their spacesuits in case an emergency evacuation becomes necessary.
Efforts are underway to address the deteriorating air leak on the ISS, with a Russian cosmonaut leading repair efforts while the crew prepares for a potential evacuation.
The leak has been identified in the Russian segment of the station, where astronauts are currently seeking shelter inside their spacecraft.
The air leak is occurring in the Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, a confined, pressurized passageway situated at the back of the International Space Station.
According to NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens, this area has been experiencing cracks and leaks for some time, and Roscosmos has been working to address the issues as much as possible. NASA has been closely monitoring these concerns related to the cracks and is actively investigating the root cause.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have been advised to prepare for a potential evacuation due to a worsening air leak.