Additional Coverage:
- Four astronauts launch to the space station as NASA grapples with strange twist in leak issue (cnn.com)
Space Station Leak Mystery Deepens as Private Astronauts Launch
A new chapter has unfolded in the ongoing saga of air leaks on the International Space Station (ISS), coinciding with the launch of the private Axiom Space Mission 4 (Ax-4). The mission, carrying four astronauts, lifted off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center early Wednesday morning, following delays caused by leak-related tests on the ISS.
The leak, a persistent issue in a Russian-controlled module, had seemingly stopped recently, raising concerns among station operators. While the cessation of the leak could indicate successful patching, NASA engineers are worried a new leak may have developed internally. This internal leak could be causing air from the rest of the station to flow into the damaged module, potentially jeopardizing the entire station’s air pressure.
NASA’s June 14th statement acknowledged these concerns and the subsequent launch delay for Ax-4. Investigations involving pressure adjustments in the transfer tunnel were conducted.
A more recent statement on Tuesday confirmed ongoing collaboration between NASA and Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, to address the problem. However, detailed findings remain unclear, and Roscosmos has not responded to requests for comment.
The leaks, first detected in 2019, originate in a tunnel connecting the Russian Zvezda module to a docking port for cargo and supply spacecraft. The tiny, almost invisible cracks have made patching difficult.
Last year, the leak rate reached its highest point, revealing a disagreement between US and Russian technical teams about the cause. While Russia believed continued operations were safe, the US expressed safety concerns, according to Bob Cabana, chair of NASA’s ISS Advisory Committee.
Meanwhile, the Ax-4 crew, including former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and three international first-time space travelers, endured a month-long quarantine in Florida awaiting launch. The two-week mission will involve around 60 science experiments. The potential impact of the Zvezda module leak on overall station operations remains uncertain.
While private missions like Ax-4 are infrequent, NASA and Roscosmos regularly rotate astronaut and cosmonaut crews on the ISS. Crew-11, SpaceX’s 12th crew rotation mission for NASA, is scheduled for July. This crew, including astronauts from NASA, JAXA (Japan), and Roscosmos, is expected to spend the typical six months aboard the station.