The International Space Station (ISS) is still facing an ISS air leak issue from its Russian segment, despite several recent repair efforts.
Ongoing ISS Air Leak Raises Serious Concerns
This long-standing problem, first noticed in 2019, continues to allow small amounts of air to escape into space.
The ISS air leak is not currently dangerous to the astronauts onboard, but it is a significant concern for space agencies. The leak is believed to be located in the Russian-built Zvezda service module. Even after targeted repairs, the station is still slowly losing pressure, meaning the ISS air leak is not fully fixed yet.
American and Russian teams have been working together to solve the ISS air leak. One proposed solution was to close off the section where the leak is happening. However, sealing that area would lead to the loss of a key docking port, which is important for Russian spacecraft. This option remains on the table, but agencies are hoping to avoid it.
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The most recent repair attempts appeared successful at first. The pressure inside the space station seemed stable, and experts thought the issue might have been solved. However, new checks later revealed that the ISS air leak was still active—though it had slowed down.
Investigations Continue to Pinpoint the ISS Air Leak
Both NASA and Roscosmos are continuing to investigate the ISS air leak. Their goal is to identify exactly where the air is escaping and how to stop it completely. Recent efforts focused on the rear part of the Zvezda module, where engineers believed the leak was the strongest.
For a short time, pressure levels inside the station held steady, giving hope that the repairs were working. But further analysis showed that the ISS air leak had only reduced, not stopped. This means either the crack wasn’t fully sealed or there are still other tiny holes that haven’t been found.
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As the station grows older, small cracks and leaks like this one become more common. These types of issues can grow worse if left untreated. The ISS air leak is an example of how small damage can become a serious issue over time.
A recent official report marked this ISS air leak as a top safety concern. It also noted that the leak rate went up during early 2024, which pushed engineers to act more urgently.
In fact, the Axiom 4 mission was delayed for more analysis. NASA used the extra time to study a “new pressure signature” that appeared after recent repairs. Engineers wanted to know if this meant the ISS air leak was finally fixed—or if it had only changed.
Crew Remains Safe While Repairs Continue
Despite the ISS air leak, the astronauts on board are safe. The leak is small enough that it does not cause an immediate danger. The station has systems to replace lost air, and alarms will go off if pressure drops too quickly.
Still, the ISS air leak is a serious issue. Fixing it is hard because space repairs are very different from repairs on Earth. The problem area is difficult to reach, and astronauts have to use special tools and take careful steps to avoid making the damage worse.
NASA and Roscosmos have not yet agreed on a specific level at which the air loss becomes too risky. Without a clear limit, it is harder to make decisions like sealing off parts of the station.
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Meanwhile, other missions to the ISS are still moving forward. The SpaceX Crew-11 mission, for example, was delayed recently due to poor weather—not because of the pressure issue. The situation does not directly impact the launch or arrival of new crews.
However, the leak remains a background concern. Both space agencies are continuing their efforts to find the source and stop it completely. Their work is essential to making sure the station remains safe and stable during its remaining years in orbit.
