NASA and Roscosmos pause ISS repairs after method dispute triggers shelter-in-place
The International Space Station crew returned to normal operations on Friday after NASA ordered a safe-haven procedure due to concerns over the repair methods being employed by Russian cosmonauts on a persistent air leak.
Five astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have resumed normal duties after sheltering in the docked SpaceX Dragon 'Freedom' spacecraft. The precautionary measure was initiated when NASA directed the crew to brace for potential evacuation during an urgent repair attempt by Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. The repairs targeted a worsening air leak in the PrK transfer tunnel leading to the Zvezda service module, a problem that has persisted intermittently for approximately six years.
The situation escalated due to a disagreement over the repair methodology. The cosmonauts were using a saw to access the crack in the Russian segment, a technique disputed by NASA. Consequently, NASA ordered the five crew members—who were wearing spacesuits—to shelter in the Dragon capsule. Roscosmos subsequently paused the repairs, and NASA confirmed that the immediate risk had subsided, allowing the crew to return to the station.
The five crew members ordered to shelter comprise the four astronauts of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission alongside NASA astronaut Chris Williams. Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev, who arrived on the ISS in February, had been sheltering on the docked ship. They had been told to put on their spacesuits so they were ready to undock and return to Earth at short notice. The Dragon effectively functions as a lifeboat, attached to the station but ready to detach the moment the order is given.
The leak is located in the PrK transfer tunnel, a problem that has persisted intermittently for around six years. A fresh slow pressure drop in the tunnel was noticed last month following the arrival of a Russian cargo ship, prompting the decision to attempt an extensive repair operation rather than continuing with patchwork fixes. Kud-Sverchkov, who serves as the station commander, is joined by Mikaev, who is on his first spaceflight.
NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens confirmed on X that the safe haven procedures were ended and the crew returned to planned operations. "Given this development, Nasa has instructed the crew members inside the Dragon spacecraft to end the safe haven procedures and return to planned operations aboard the International Space Station," she stated. Roscosmos, via Tass, reported that nothing had threatened the safety of the crew or the ISS's onboard systems.
The ISS, which spans the length of a football field, is the largest human-made object in space. It has been continuously operated by a US-Russian-led consortium that includes Canada, Japan and 11 European countries since 1998. The incident highlights the ongoing technical challenges faced by the station and the complex operational dynamics between the participating space agencies.
