Space & Astronomy

ISS astronauts take shelter due to concerns over worsening air leak

By T.K. Randall
June 5, 2026

Image: International Space Station
Credit: (PD) NASA If you happen to be an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, one thing you definitely don't want to hear is that there is a leak causing precious air to vent out into space.

This was the scenario facing the astronauts aboard the orbital outpost today when a series of stubborn leaks in Russia's Zvezda service module suddenly worsened.

The leaks had been a problem for months, but it was the sudden increase in the amount of air being lost that prompted NASA to order a precautionary 'safe haven' procedure. This saw the four crew members of the Crew-12 mission don their spacesuits and enter the docked Crew Dragon spacecraft in case it became necessary to abandon the station altogether.

While they did this, Russian cosmonauts attempted to repair the leaks in the Zvezda module.

After work was carried out to mitigate some of the leaks, the decision was made to halt additional repairs and reassess the situation, prompting the Crew-12 astronauts to return to normal station operations.

With the issue still unresolved, efforts are now underway between NASA and its Russian counterparts to develop a more permanent solution.

Source: The Guardian

Tags: ISS