ISS Astronauts Briefly Evacuated as Air Leak Rate Doubles

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) experienced a temporary evacuation due to an escalating air leak in the Russian 'Zvezda' service module. The incident prompted NASA to direct five astronauts, including its own crew members, to shelter in the Dragon commercial crew vehicle, which serves as a lifeboat.

Bethany Stephenson, a NASA spokesperson, confirmed the situation via X (formerly Twitter), stating that the leak was discovered in a connecting tunnel of the 'Zvezda' module. While the air loss had been around 1 pound per day in recent months, it recently doubled to 2 pounds daily, raising safety concerns.

NASA's decision to evacuate was a heightened safety measure. However, the procedure was short-lived. Russian cosmonauts were instructed by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, to halt repair attempts and conduct further data measurements and analysis. Following this, NASA rescinded the evacuation order after about two hours, allowing the astronauts to return to their regular duties.

Stephenson added that NASA is continuing to collaborate with its Russian partners to develop a permanent solution for the leak. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining the aging ISS and the cooperative efforts required between international space agencies.

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We are continuing to work with our Russian partners to develop a permanent solution.