Repair Work on Russian PrK Module of the International Space Station Suspended

In the second half of May, it emerged that the International Space Station was continuing to lose air into space due to several leaks in the Russian PrK module. This is not new considering that cosmonauts and the mission control center had noted a decrease in internal pressure as early as 2019. Although it is not an emergency, it is a situation that needs to be constantly monitored, and, in the best of circumstances, resolved before the ISS is decommissioned between 2030 and 2032.

Cosmonauts had managed to repair the leaks affecting the International Space Station last year, stabilizing the situation. However, over the months, the atmosphere leaks had resumed, prompting Roscosmos to choose to intervene again. The lives of the astronauts and cosmonauts on board were and are not in danger, although, as stated above, it is not an optimal condition for the continuation of the long-term mission.

Roscosmos has suspended repair work on the International Space Station. In recent hours, cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev, and Andrey Fedyaev had begun inspection and potentially repair operations of the leaks in the PrK module connected to the Zvezda module of the International Space Station (Russian segment), as planned for some time.

As a precautionary measure, NASA instructed the four crew members of the Crew-12 mission and astronaut Chris Williams to enter the Crew Dragon spacecraft, docked to the ISS, while repairs were underway. As explained by NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens, "Roscosmos has suspended structural repair work on Friday [i.e., today] inside the transfer tunnel of the Zvezda service module, known as PrK, while further measurements and data are being assessed." Considering that the situation inside the International Space Station remains relatively stable and poses no immediate danger to the crew, the astronauts were able to return to their regular activities aboard the orbital outpost.

NASA and Roscosmos will further collaborate to try to definitively solve the ISS atmosphere leaks (or at least until the end of its operational life). According to reports from Russian news agencies, at least two leaks have been identified, and one has been sealed using a high-strength two-component metal-polymer compound called Hermetall-1. These structural problems could prompt NASA and other partners to end the operational life of the ISS at the earliest possible time (around 2030) without extending it to 2032. However, this could put additional pressure on companies developing commercial space stations that must be ready when needed.