"NASA Calls ISS Leak 'Catastrophic' Due to Risks"

"NASA Calls ISS Leak 'Catastrophic' Due to Risks"

A part of the Russian-controlled section of the International Space Station (ISS) has been leaking air for about five years, and the situation has recently worsened, raising concerns about the crew's safety and the ISS's long-term viability. 

This leak, discovered in 2019 in the Zvezda module, was initially slow but has increased significantly in 2024, with air escaping at a rate of 1.7 kilograms per day. 

NASA and Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, disagree on the seriousness of the leak and its causes. While Roscosmos attributes it to wear and tear from vibrations in the module, NASA believes other factors, like pressure and material stress, are involved. 

NASA has raised alarms about the potential for a "catastrophic" failure of the module, as it could affect the station’s structural integrity. However, Roscosmos insists that the leak is manageable and that the station is still safe to operate, though they cannot fully convince NASA of this.

The situation has caused tension between the two space agencies, with NASA urging more attention to the problem.

 while Russia believes continued operations are not immediately dangerous. Despite a meeting in September 2024, both sides remain at odds over how serious the issue is and how to fix it.