NASA tells ISS crew to prepare for possible evacuation as air leak concerns grow
text_fields
NASA has instructed astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to prepare for a possible emergency evacuation as engineers investigate worsening air leaks in a Russian section of the orbiting laboratory.
The precautionary measure follows concerns about a long-monitored leak in the ISS's Zvezda service module, which has reportedly intensified in recent days.
According to reports, astronauts were directed to board their docked spacecraft and remain ready for a rapid return to Earth if conditions deteriorate.
At 9.04 a.m. ET on Friday, NASA mission control instructed the four members of the Crew-12 mission, comprising two American astronauts, one French astronaut, and one Russian cosmonaut, to enter their docked Crew Dragon spacecraft and wear their spacesuits as a safety measure.
NASA and Russia's space agency Roscosmos have been monitoring small air leaks in the Zvezda service module for years. The module is a critical part of the Russian segment of the station and has been the focus of ongoing discussions between the two agencies regarding the source of the leaks and possible repairs.
Engineers have been tracking cracks in the Zvezda transfer tunnel to prevent a larger loss of pressure. While previous leaks were managed without posing a major threat to the crew, recent developments have raised fresh concerns.
According to a Reuters report citing a senior NASA source, the rate of air loss increased earlier this week from about one pound of air per day to two pounds per day.
As assessments continue, astronauts from the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada were advised to stay prepared inside their spacecraft. The move would allow a quick undocking and return to Earth if the situation becomes more serious.
The incident has renewed attention on the ageing infrastructure of the ISS, which has been continuously inhabited for more than two decades and remains one of the world's most complex international scientific projects.