The Russian section of the International Space Station, which is exposed to “cracks and air leaks,” has been classified as a “high risk to safety” in a new NASA report released Thursday.
According to RCO News Agency, The leak, found inside a tunnel that connects to a docking station, has been monitored since 2019 and is listed in official documents from 2021. However, NASA detected an “increased leak rate” last February and said in a report this week that the root cause of the leak remains unknown.
According to the New York Post, the United States is working with the Russian space program, Roscosmos, to determine its origin. The report noted that both agencies currently narrow their focus to domestic and foreign welding.
In a worst-case scenario, the Russians may need to permanently close the valve area around the leaks, leaving their sector with only the connection point.
The leak in June has the highest threat level on the space station’s “risk matrix” in terms of probability and consequences. At the same time, the ISS and Roscosmos met to address “escalating concerns about increased leak rates.”
The Russians are confident they will get everything under control before the leak rate reaches untenable levels.
In February of this year, NASA detected an increase in the leak rate from less than 1 pound atmosphere per day to 2.4 pounds per day, and in April this rate increased to 3.7 pounds per day. However, NASA and Roscosmos have yet to agree on the point at which the leak rate becomes unsolvable.
There are also questions about the lifespan of the International Space Station after 2030.
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