NASA Warns of Increasing Air Leaks in Russian Section of ISS

A new report highlights a severe safety risk due to unknown cracks and leaks in a tunnel connecting the Russian segment to a docking port.

NASA and Roscosmos are investigating cracks and air leaks in the Service Module Transfer Tunnel of the ISS, which have worsened since 2019.
The leak rate increased significantly in 2024, releasing up to 3.7 pounds of atmosphere daily, raising the issue to the highest risk level on NASA's risk matrix.
Both agencies suspect internal and external welds but have not identified the root cause of the leaks.
If the situation deteriorates, the affected hatch may need to be permanently closed, reducing the number of Russian docking ports from four to three.
The future of the ISS remains uncertain, with discussions ongoing about extending its operation past 2028 or decommissioning it by 2030.