NASA Ceases Evacuation Procedures on ISS
NASA has terminated its safe evacuation protocols aboard the International Space Station (ISS) following a halt in repair activities by Russia’s space agency due to an air leak, officials announced on Friday.
Initially, NASA had ordered four members of its SpaceX crew, including astronaut Chris Williams, to maintain a “high safety posture” aboard the Dragon spacecraft while Roscosmos carried out repairs. However, later communications indicated that the astronauts had been cleared to resume their usual activities. The Crew-12 mission comprises two American astronauts, one French astronaut, and one Russian astronaut.
Reports suggested that NASA and Roscosmos have been in discussions for some time regarding the origins and resolution of the leak in the Zvezda service module. Roscosmos reported that two leaks were identified on the station, assuring that the crew was not in danger. They stated that a first leak was promptly addressed, and efforts are underway to tackle the second one.
In a preliminary update, agency spokesperson Bethany Stevens noted that the Zvezda Service Module Transfer Tunnel, known as PrK, has suffered from cracks and leaks over time, although Roscosmos has managed these issues as best as possible. She mentioned that the Russian agency opted for extensive repairs on Friday, and NASA had issued precautionary directives to its astronauts.
Stevens later clarified that Roscosmos paused repair work to gather measurements and assess the situation.
In January, NASA reported that the PrK module had attained a “stable configuration” after extensive testing and sealant application. However, another leak reappeared in late May. Roscosmos alerted about a gradual pressure drop starting May 1, which was linked to activities involving the cargo ship Progress 95. NASA spokesperson Josh Finch indicated that the leak results in a loss of about one pound of pressure daily, but he assured that overall operations on the station would remain unaffected as the tunnel would be maintained at reduced pressure and pressurized as necessary.
