NASA reverses shelter order for astronauts on the ISS
ISS air leak prompts crew safety move after worsening Russian module crack See what NASA and Roscosmos found, and why astronauts were never in danger
NASA briefly told five astronauts aboard the International Space Station to shelter inside their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on Friday after an air leak on the Russian side of the station appeared to worsen. The agency later lifted the order after assessing the situation with Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency.
Roscosmos said one leak had been sealed and work was continuing on a second, while NASA said the crew was never in immediate danger. The issue involved the Zvezda service module, where small leaks have been discussed for months.
Safehaven procedures on the ISS are used when astronauts may need to quickly return to their spacecraft, but an evacuation has never been required in the station’s 27year history.