A recent report from NASA’s inspector general has revealed rising concerns about leaks in a tunnel linking the International Space Station's Russian segment to a docking port. This issue poses a significant safety risk, with officials uncertain about the cause.

The report states, “Ongoing cracks and air leaks in the Service Module Transfer Tunnel are a top safety risk.” NASA and Roscosmos are working together to investigate the problem and monitor the station for new leaks.

Growing Concerns Over Leak Rates

In April, NASA reported a concerning spike in the leak rate. It increased to 3.7 pounds of lost atmosphere daily, a drastic rise from just under 1 pound in February, according to Ars Technica.

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While the root cause remains unidentified, both agencies are focusing on internal and external welds as potential sources of the issue. Fixing these leaks could be complicated due to ongoing supply chain problems affecting NASA's contractors.

In June, NASA classified the cracking issue as its highest concern level in its risk matrix. If the leaks persist, both agencies may need to permanently close the hatch to the affected tunnel, restricting astronauts from one of the station's four docking ports.

Potential Solutions and Future Operations

NASA reports that Roscosmos is confident in monitoring and closing the hatch before the leak rate becomes unmanageable. However, an agreement on what constitutes an untenable leak rate has yet to be established between the two agencies.

This situation adds to the challenges facing the space station, which has a limited operational lifespan. NASA plans to collaborate with SpaceX to deorbit the station in 2030, with discussions ongoing about extending operations beyond 2028.