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Tension Flared on Space Station as Russia Threatened to Drill and Saw Into Wall, Prompting NASA Astronauts to Take Shelter
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- The International Space Station (ISS) has been experiencing persistent air leaks, particularly from the PrK tunnel section connecting the Russian Zvezda module to the aft docking port, with issues dating back to at least 2019.
- On June 5, 2024, tensions escalated between NASA and Roscosmos when Russia planned drastic repair measures involving a saw and a drill, prompting NASA to order astronauts to take shelter in a docked Dragon spacecraft as a safety precaution.
- The conflict highlighted strained cooperation between the two space agencies, with NASA threatening to send astronauts in suits to signal disagreement, ultimately leading Roscosmos to halt their aggressive repair attempts.
- As a result, the PrK module will be decommissioned and unpressurized, potentially limiting the use of its attached dock, though experts believe the ISS can continue operating by sealing off the affected section.
- The incident underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining the aging ISS and raises concerns about future leak risks and international collaboration in space station operations.
