NASA and Russia Identify 50 “Areas of Concern” on the International Space Station (ISS), with a 2019 coolant leak Remaining a Top Threat.
While NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) are addressing the issue of leaks on the ISS, this remains the “top safety risk” for astronauts aboard, according to a report from NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released last month.
Nasa officials, in an interview with the Washington Post, stated that they are monitoring four cracks and 50 “areas of concern” on the ISS. The cracks have been “sealed with a combination of sealant and patches” by Roscosmos. Repair measures are still ongoing. However, the leak area remains the primary risk, rated a 5 out of 5 in NASA’s internal risk assessments, according to OIG.
“We have repeatedly communicated the seriousness of the leaks, including during my visit to Russia earlier this year,” Deputy Administrator Jim Free added in the interview. Because the leaks are located near the station’s hatch, Free mentioned that Roscosmos agreed with NASA’s request to close the station as much as possible: “We reached an agreement for them to close it at night.”
International Space Station. (Photo: SpaceX/NASA).
NASA astronauts are also staying on the American side of the complex to be closer to their escape vehicles in case evacuation is needed. However, NASA has emphasized multiple times that the leaks do not pose an immediate threat to the astronauts.
“Currently, it does not affect crew safety or vehicle operations, but it is something everyone should be aware of,” ISS Program Director Joel Montalbano said during a press conference in February 2024.
The ISS has been leaking coolant at the end of the Russian module where the Progress spacecraft docked with the station, NASA’s ISS program manager Joel Montalbano reported in February at the Kennedy Space Center. According to Montalbano, that area is approximately 0.9 meters long.
The leak has persisted for five years, and patching measures have been implemented since its detection, Roscosmos officials stated during an online press briefing on September 27. Currently, repairs have significantly reduced the previously observed high leak rate of 1.7 kilograms per day in April 2024 to 2.4 pounds (approximately over 1 kg) per day.
Diagram of the International Space Station with the Service Module Transfer Tunnel. The Russian segments, including the tunnel (in red). The leak from this area peaked at a new high of 1.7 kg per day as of April 2024. (Photo: NASA OIG).
The ISS is expected to operate until 2030 to meet NASA’s staffing needs and provide commercial research in low Earth orbit. In the following decade, NASA hopes to have a series of commercial space stations ready to take over operations.
The NASA OIG is monitoring several other risks that could threaten the long-term maintenance of the ISS, from a sudden collision with micro-meteoroids to supply chain issues.
SpaceX has been tasked with building a larger Dragon spacecraft to decommission the ISS from orbit, according to a contract awarded by NASA earlier this year. The OIG stated it would further investigate the schedule, costs, and risks associated with the new vehicle and the plan to relocate the station.
