Russian Segment of the ISS Is Leaking Again But NASA Says ‘They Have Progress’ In Reducing It

NASA is concerned about a leaking part of the International Space Station (ISS), confirming that the issue has reached the highest level on the agency’s risk matrix. The leaks and cracks are located in the Russian segment of the station. Joint investigations by NASA and Roscosmos have yet to identify the root cause of the leak. However, several measures have been implemented to reduce the risk and mitigate the potential consequences for future operations.

The ISS is leaking again – is there a threat to the astronauts?

The leak in the PrK module, a component of the space station’s Russian segment that connects the Zvezda module with a docking port, was first detected in 2019. Back then the problem did not seem so critical. However, the leak began accelerating tremendously.

In February 2024, NASA detected that the leak rate had doubled compared to the previous year: increased to 2.4 pounds of atmosphere per day. By April, the situation worsened significantly, with a rate of 3.7 pounds per day.

A recent report by NASA’s Office of Inspector General, released 26 September, reveals that in June, the ISS program had elevated a leak “to the highest level of risk in its risk management system.”

Despite numerous investigations, neither Russian nor US officials have identified the root cause of the leak.

“Although the root cause of the leak remains unknown, both agencies have narrowed their focus to internal and external welds,” the report states.

NASA’s Assessment Of The Situation

At the briefing on 27 September NASA officials said that there had been progress in reducing the leak rate. Robyn Gatens, director of the ISS program at NASA Headquarters, said that engineers were able to reduce the leak rate by about one third. 

Roscosmos and NASA decided to keep the hatch to the PrK module closed, isolating the leak from other parts of the station. If the leak continues to worsen, this hatch may need to be closed permanently, reducing the number of Russian docking ports on the space station from four to three. This move would significantly reduce operational flexibility, limiting how spacecraft can access the station for vital resupply and crew rotations.

According to the report: “Roscosmos is confident they will be able to monitor and close the hatch to the Service Module prior to the leak rate reaching an untenable level. However, NASA and Roscosmos have not reached an agreement on the point at which the leak rate is untenable.”

Future Of The ISS

The report also highlights the uncertain future of the International Space Station. Launched in 1998, the ISS has been operated for over 25 years. For sure, its infrastructure is aging and the mission will soon come to an end. NASA and its partners have agreed to maintain the ISS until 2028, and there have been discussions about extending its operations until 2030. However, the future of the station remains unclear due to aging equipment as well as changes in geopolitical situation. NASA’s partnership with Roscosmos has been severely strained by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Extending the ISS past 2030 will require significant funding to operate and maintain the station, acceptance of increased risk stemming from its components and aging structures, and assurances of continued support from NASA’s international partners,” the report states.