NASA Orders ISS Astronauts to Prepare for Evacuation Amidst Growing Air Leak

NASA has instructed astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to prepare for a possible emergency evacuation due to a worsening air leak in the Russian segment of the orbital laboratory. The directive was issued on Friday.

Four astronauts from NASA's Crew-12 mission, two Americans, one French astronaut, and one Russian cosmonaut, received the order from NASA's mission control center. They were told to enter their Crew Dragon spacecraft, which is docked to the station, and don protective spacesuits in case an immediate evacuation becomes necessary.

The air leak, located in the Zvezda service module, a critical component of the ISS, has been a subject of discussion between NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos for months. While the leak was relatively minor previously, its rate reportedly increased significantly on Monday, escalating from about half a kilogram of air loss per day to two kilograms, according to a high-ranking NASA official who spoke anonymously.

This escalation in the air leak has raised concerns about the station's integrity and the safety of the crew. The Zvezda module serves as a vital living and working space for the astronauts. The Russian crew is reportedly attempting to repair the leak.

NASA and Roscosmos are the primary operators of the ISS, a collaborative project involving multiple international space agencies. The decision to prepare for evacuation highlights the seriousness of the situation and the potential risks associated with the increasing air loss from the station's structure.