NASA and Russia Dispute Severity of ISS Air Leak

A worsening air leak in the Russian module of the Space Station raises safety concerns, with NASA fearing catastrophic failure while Russia downplays the risk.

The air leak in the ISS's Russian-controlled module, first identified in 2019, has worsened, leading to increased safety concerns.
NASA and Roscosmos disagree on the severity and cause of the leak, with NASA expressing concerns about potential catastrophic failure.
The leak rate reached a peak earlier this year, prompting NASA to elevate the issue to the highest risk level in its management system.
Efforts to seal the leaks have reduced the rate, but the underlying cause remains unresolved, with theories ranging from micro-vibrations to structural stress.
NASA is advocating for an independent assessment to reach a consensus on the risk and necessary actions, but Russia has yet to fully endorse this approach.