Space & Astronomy

NASA discovers leak aboard the space station

By T.K. Randall
August 30, 2018

Image: ISS Astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson in the Cupola (2010)
Credit: Tracy Caldwell Dyson / (PD) NASA According to reports, flight controllers on Earth first noticed that something was up when they detected a slight drop in cabin pressure on Wednesday evening at around 7 p.m. EDT.

Upon waking, the crew quickly got to work hunting down the location of the leak.

The culprit, it turned out, was the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft currently docked at the station.It appeared as though a small meteorite had punched a hole through its hull.

"The leak has been isolated to a hole about two millimeters in diameter in the orbital compartment, or upper section, of the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft," NASA said in a statement. "The rate of the leak was slowed this morning through the temporary application of Kapton tape at the leak site."

"Flight controllers are working with the crew to develop a more comprehensive long-term repair."

Fortunately the leak doesn't appear to be serious and does not pose a risk to the crew.

Source: Independent

Tags: ISS, Astronauts