Air leaking from the <a href="https://www.archyde.com/nasa-bets-on-studying-an-unexplored-world-in-2022/" title="NASA bets on studying an unexplored world in 2022″>International Space Station (ISS) has blown the minds of the American space agency “NASA”.
NASA is trying to fix a persistent air leak in the Russian section of the International Space Station.
The issue was first discovered in 2019 in the “PrK vestibule” of the Zvezda module and has been the subject of ongoing investigations and mitigation efforts ever since.
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A recent report by NASA’s Office of the Inspector General highlighted the magnitude of the leak, which had increased to about 1.7 kilograms per day by April 2024, marking the ISS program at the highest level of risk. .
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However, NASA officials now report significant improvements, as recent repair work has reduced the leakage rate by about a third.
While the exact cause of the leak is still under investigation, both NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos are focusing on internal and external welds.
As a precautionary measure, station personnel kept the hatches of the affected area closed when not in use, effectively minimizing the spill’s impact on overall station operations.
NASA and Russia continue to cooperate to understand and address the cosmos leak, but they have not yet reached an agreement on what constitutes an “unsustainable” leak rate.
If the situation worsens, a possible long-term solution involves permanently sealing the hatch, although this would result in the loss of a docking port for the Progress and Soyuz spacecraft.
The leak is one of several challenges NASA faces in maintaining ISS operations through the end of the decade. Other concerns include potential supply chain issues for spare parts, the ongoing certification of Boeing’s CST 100 Starliner for crew transport, and the increased risk of orbital debris.
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Note that the ISS is reaching the end of its planned life between 2028 and 2030, and NASA is focusing on de-orbit projects.
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NASA has contracted SpaceX to develop a de-orbit vehicle based on the Dragon spacecraft, although the project faces potential budget and schedule risks.
Despite these challenges, NASA remains committed to the safe operation of the ISS and continues to work with international partners to address and mitigate threats to the station’s long-term viability.
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