NASA has instructed five astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to take shelter in the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft while Russian engineers address a new leak in the service module.
According to NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens, the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, has identified additional leaks and is undertaking significant repairs. In a recent post on X, Stevens emphasized the precautionary measure taken for the safety of the crew.
"In light of the situation, NASA has advised all four members of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission, along with NASA astronaut Chris Williams, to maintain an elevated safety posture within the Dragon capsule during the repair process," she stated. "We are collaborating closely with our Russian partners and the broader international community that supports the ISS to find a lasting solution."
The Russian service module has faced leakage issues for some time, with Stevens noting that these cracks have always been closely monitored by NASA. However, the duration of the astronauts' stay in the Crew Dragon remains uncertain as both NASA and SpaceX have yet to provide further comments.
Currently, there are ten individuals aboard the ISS. The Crew-12 mission, which includes two NASA astronauts, one European Space Agency astronaut, and one Russian cosmonaut, arrived in February. Additionally, three other crew members, comprising one NASA astronaut and two cosmonauts, reached the station last November via a Russian Soyuz mission.
This repair initiative and the temporary sheltering of the crew occur amidst discussions regarding the future of the ISS. Under the direction of its new administrator, Jared Isaacman, NASA is actively exploring the possibility of replacing the aging space station with commercially produced modules later this decade.
