ISS astronauts told to prepare for evacuation by NASA over ‘worsening air leak’
US space agency NASA has warned astronauts aboard the International Space Station that they should shelter and prepare for evacuation as an air leak has reportedly worsened
Astronauts onboard the International Space Station have been told to evacuate (file)(Image: ISS/NASA / SWNS)
NASA has warned astronauts aboard the International Space Station have that they need to prepare for evacuation after an air like is worsening.
The space agency said the leak is on the Russian side of the station. Astronauts are now reportedly sheltering in their spacecraft aboard the International Space Station.
NASA say a Russian crew member is trying to fix the air leak, which is in a portion of the orbital laboratory.
A NASA spokesperson says the Zvezda service module transfer tunnel is where the air leak is taking place. The cracks “have always been a concern” and NASA has been monitoring the situation closely.
NASA have confirmed that NASA all four of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-12 members and NASA astronaut Chris Williams have taken shelter in an elevated safety position in the Dragon spacecraft. They will remain here while Roscosmos complete a “more extensive repair operation” today (June 5).
Writing on X, NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said: “The Zvezda service module transfer tunnel, known as PrK, has suffered from cracks and leaks for some time, and has been mitigated by Roscosmos as much as possible to date. The cracks have always been a concern that NASA watches very closely.
“NASA and Roscosmos have been working to determine the root cause of the cracks, and Roscosmos manages the issue through operational mitigation measures and periodic partial-repair efforts. Following new leaks, Roscosmos has elected to proceed with a more extensive repair operation on Friday, June 5.
“Out of an abundance of caution, NASA has directed all four of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-12 members and NASA astronaut Chris Williams to assume an elevated safety posture in the Dragon spacecraft while the repair is underway.
“We continue to work with our Russian counterparts, along with the rest of the international community that supports the space station, to arrive at a more permanent resolution.”
There are seven astronauts currently on board the ISS with the Space-X Crew-12 rocketand the Russian Soyuz ms-28 rocket.
Space-X Crew-12:
- Jessica Meir (American)
- Jack Hathaway (American)
- Sophie Adenot (French)
- Andrey Fedyaev (Russian)
Soyuz ms-28:
- Christopher Williams (American)
- Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (Russian)
- Sergei Mikayev (Russian)
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