Russian space officials have confirmed the presence of a continuing air leak from the Russian segment of the International Space Station. However, they have assured that the leak does not pose any danger to the crew on board.
The Roscosmos state corporation stated that specialists are actively monitoring the leak and the crew is regularly working to identify and repair any potential spots of the leak. They emphasized that there is no immediate threat to the crew or the station itself.
This acknowledgment comes after NASA's station project manager noted that while the leak in the Russian segment has increased, it remains small and does not pose a safety risk to the crew or the station's operations.
As the space outpost ages, the crew is required to dedicate more time to maintenance and repairs to ensure its continued functionality, according to Roscosmos.
The initial report of a leak in the Zvezda module was made in August 2020, with Russian crew members locating and attempting to fix the source later that year. In November 2021, another potentially leaky spot was discovered in a different part of the Russian section of the station.
Despite these challenges, both Roscosmos and NASA have reiterated that the leaks do not pose a threat to the crew's safety or impact station operations.
In addition to the air leak, there have been other technical issues on the space station. In October, coolant leaked from an external backup radiator for Russia's new science lab Nauka, though the main thermal control system was unaffected and the crew was not in danger.
Subsequent coolant leaks from Russian spacecraft docked at the station were also reported, with investigations attributing the leaks to likely impacts by tiny meteoroids rather than manufacturing flaws.
The International Space Station, a symbol of international cooperation, remains a key area of collaboration between Russia and the West amid ongoing tensions. NASA and its partners aim to continue operating the station until 2030.
The current crew on the space station includes astronauts from NASA, the European Space Agency, Russian cosmonauts, and a Japanese astronaut.
