NASA has released a new update on the ongoing air leak issue inside Russia's Zvezda service module on the International Space Station, where cracks in a transfer tunnel have caused small atmospheric leaks since 2019.
The affected area is known as the PrK transfer tunnel. NASA and Roscosmos have been monitoring the leak for years while working to understand its root cause and reduce the loss of air. Roscosmos has used both temporary and permanent sealants as part of its leak mitigation efforts.
Leak Rate Rises During Progress 95 Operations
According to NASA's latest update, Roscosmos detected a higher leak rate during cargo operations involving the Progress 95 spacecraft during the week of June 1. The leak rate increased to about two pounds per day, and engineers identified new suspected leak areas inside the PrK.
Following those findings, Roscosmos decided on Friday morning to prepare for a more extensive inspection and structural repair effort. The revised plan included cutting a bracket to improve access to an area that may have been contributing to the leak. NASA noted that this method could have increased the risk to the surrounding structure.
