Russia's Decision on Troubled ISS Module Sparks Concerns
WHO:
Hackaday - NASA and Roscosmos are the two space agencies involved in the International Space Station (ISS) operations.
Gizmodo - Russian cosmonauts are involved in the attempts to repair the air leaks.
WHAT:
Hackaday - Russia is reportedly going to abandon further attempts to repair the leak and instead seal off the PrK compartment of the Zvezda module.
Gizmodo - Roscosmos plans to decommission the PrK module altogether, which involves permanently closing the hatch to minimize air loss.
Yahoo - NASA's decision to have astronauts shelter in the Dragon spacecraft was prompted by concerns over Russia's plan to use a saw and drill to repair the leak.
Hackaday - NASA directed its astronauts to secure themselves in the Dragon capsule in response to a potential emergency situation.
Hackaday - Roscosmos attempted to drill and cut into the Zvezda module to repair persistent leaks.
Gizmodo - Roscosmos reported a leak on the ISS in September 2019, traced to the PrK vestibule.
Gizmodo - The air leak rate has doubled from one pound a day to a little over two pounds a day.
Gizmodo - NASA elevated the leak to the highest level of risk due to its persistence.
Gizmodo - Russian officials planned to use a saw to access the crack in the Zvezda module, which NASA disagreed with.
Gizmodo - Russia may decommission the PrK module to minimize air loss and isolate the leak.
WHERE:
Hackaday - The events are taking place aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Gizmodo - The leak is located in the Zvezda module's vestibule, known as PrK.
WHEN:
Gizmodo - The leak was first reported by Roscosmos in September 2019.
Gizmodo - NASA ordered its crew to shelter in place on June 5 during a risky repair attempt.
Gizmodo - A report indicated that the air leak rate was measured in 2024.
Gizmodo - On May 1, Russian cosmonauts noticed a slow pressure drop in the Zvezda module.
WHY:
Gizmodo - The decision to decommission the PrK module is intended to isolate the leak and minimize air loss from the ISS.
Hackaday - The attempts to repair the leak were made due to the need to maintain breathable air in the ISS.
Gizmodo - The air leak poses a major safety risk to the ISS structure and the astronauts on board.
HOW:
Yahoo - NASA officials indicated that they threatened to put astronauts in suits inside the Dragon spacecraft to signal their disagreement with Russia's repair plans.
Hackaday - NASA's personnel were instructed to resume normal duties after the Russian plan was abandoned.
Gizmodo - NASA and Roscosmos have been deliberating over ways to fix the air leaks, but no effective solution has been found.
(UPDATED June 18, 2026 23:37 UTC)
Russia has decided to abandon efforts to repair the leak in the PrK compartment of the Zvezda module and will instead seal it off completely, leading to the decommissioning of the module. This move aims to isolate the leak and minimize air loss from the International Space Station. In response to these developments, NASA has indicated that they may have to put astronauts in suits inside the Dragon spacecraft to express their disagreement with Russia's proposed repair methods.
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(UPDATED June 18, 2026 18:04 UTC)
NASA and Roscosmos are currently addressing a significant air leak aboard the International Space Station, specifically in the Zvezda module's vestibule, known as PrK. In response to the escalating situation, NASA directed its astronauts to secure themselves in the Dragon capsule while Russian cosmonauts attempted repairs, including drilling into the module, although this plan was ultimately abandoned. The air leak, which has doubled in severity, poses a major safety risk, prompting discussions between the two space agencies about potential solutions, but so far, no effective fix has been identified.