NASA Directs ISS Astronauts to Shelter in Crew Dragon as Roscosmos Addresses Worsening Air Leak in Zvezda PrK Tunnel
The leaks originate from microscopic cracks in the PrK transfer tunnel, a component of the Zvezda service module that has experienced air leaks since 2019.
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION — NASA mission control ordered five astronauts to enter their docked SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and assume an elevated safety posture on June 5 after an air leak in the Russian-operated Zvezda service module’s PrK transfer tunnel worsened.
The directive at 9:04 a.m. ET followed confirmation that the leak rate had doubled to roughly two pounds of air per day. The five crew members donned spacesuits inside the spacecraft as a precaution while Russian cosmonauts worked on the Russian segment.
Approximately two hours later, after Roscosmos paused structural repairs for additional measurements, NASA lifted the safe-haven order and directed the crew to resume normal station operations.
The leaks originate from microscopic cracks in the PrK transfer tunnel, a component of the Zvezda service module that has experienced air leaks since 2019.
Roscosmos detected two leaks during the June 5 inspection of the transfer chamber while pressurizing the Zvezda module’s transfer chamber to the International Space Station’s pressure. The first was sealed quickly, and preparations began for the second while station pressure stayed stable.
Crew Dragon Spacecraft
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