Foul Odor From Russian Cargo Craft Temporarily Halts ISS Operations

The Progress 90 spacecraft delivered supplies to the ISS, but its arrival was marred by a strange smell and unidentified droplets, prompting safety measures.

Russian cosmonauts detected a strong odor and floating droplets after opening the hatch of the Progress 90 cargo spacecraft docked at the ISS on November 23.
The hatch to the Russian Poisk module was immediately closed, and air-scrubbing systems were activated to ensure the station's air quality remained safe.
NASA and Roscosmos attributed the smell to potential outgassing from materials inside the Progress spacecraft, though the exact cause remains unclear.
The incident did not pose any danger to the crew, and air quality was confirmed to be normal by November 24, allowing resumption of cargo unloading operations.
This event adds to a series of technical issues involving Russian spacecraft at the ISS, including recent coolant leaks and ongoing concerns about aging infrastructure.