NASA Ensures Short-Term Safety for Astronauts on Space Station with SpaceX’s Dragon Amid Leak Worries

On Friday, NASA orchestrated a brief stay for five astronauts aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft docked at the International Space Station (ISS) while Russian teams worked on a leaking service module.

Bethany Stevens, a spokesperson for NASA, shared on X that Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, discovered additional leaks in its service module, prompting an “extensive repair operation.”

“To prioritize safety, NASA advised that all four members of SpaceX Crew-12, alongside NASA astronaut Chris Williams, enhance their safety protocols within the Dragon spacecraft during the repairs,” she noted. “We are working closely with our Russian partners and the international community to find a more sustainable solution.”

Shortly after, Stevens reported that Roscosmos had temporarily halted the repairs to reevaluate “additional measurements and data.”

“Given the current scenario, NASA directed the crew aboard the Dragon spacecraft to relax their safety protocols and return to standard operations on the ISS.”

The Russian service module has been experiencing ongoing leakage problems. Stevens reiterated on Friday that these cracks “continue to be a persistent concern that NASA is actively overseeing.”

SpaceX has not yet issued a statement regarding this issue.

Currently, the ISS accommodates ten individuals: four (including two NASA astronauts, one from the European Space Agency, and one Russian cosmonaut) who joined in February as part of the extended SpaceX Crew-12 mission, along with three others (a NASA astronaut and two cosmonauts) who arrived last November via a Russian Soyuz mission.

The repair efforts and temporary safety measures are being implemented amidst ongoing uncertainties about the future of the International Space Station. Under Jared Isaacman’s leadership, NASA aims to replace the aging structure with commercially manufactured modules over the coming decade.

This article has been updated to indicate the conclusion of the sheltering process.