Following a new leak in the Russian-side service module of the International Space Station, NASA initially instructed five astronauts to remain on standby aboard the docked SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Approximately an hour later, the Russian side suspended repairs and reassessed the data. NASA subsequently ended this temporary safety measure, and the space station resumed its planned operations.
Brief entry into the Dragon spacecraft during the leak
NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens stated that Roscosmos, the Russian state space corporation, discovered a new leak in the service module and decided to conduct a major repair operation. Out of an abundance of caution, NASA has requested that the four crew members of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission, along with NASA astronaut Chris Williams, enter the Dragon spacecraft during the repair operation and be placed on a higher level of safety readiness.
She also stated that NASA is continuing to communicate with Russia and other partners on the International Space Station in hopes of finding a longer-term solution.
The evacuation arrangement was lifted approximately one hour later.
However, this arrangement was short-lived. Stevens later updated that Roscosmos had paused maintenance to further review measurements and related data. As the situation changed, NASA notified the astronauts already aboard the Dragon spacecraft to end the emergency procedures and return to the International Space Station to continue their planned missions.
Reports indicate that this is not the first time cracks and leaks have occurred in the service module. NASA stated that these cracks have been a ongoing safety concern.
The aging problem of the space station has once again attracted attention.
There are currently 10 people on the International Space Station. Four of them arrived in February of this year aboard a SpaceX Crew-12 Dragon spacecraft, and the other three arrived in November of last year aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
- A total of 5 people were temporarily assigned to standby aboard the Dragon spacecraft.
- The emergency measures were lifted approximately one hour later.
- The International Space Station currently has 10 crew members on board.
This brief period of emergency response once again highlights the operational pressures brought about by the aging International Space Station. With the appointment of new Administrator Jared Isaacman, NASA is pushing for the gradual replacement of the existing space station with commercial space station modules later this decade.
