Overview
- NASA directed five astronauts to enter the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon on Friday while Roscosmos began a more extensive repair effort in the Zvezda PrK transfer tunnel as a safety precaution.
- Roscosmos reported it found two leaks during pressurization checks, sealed the first with a hermetic compound, then paused the structural repair to assess measurements, after which NASA lifted the shelter order and crews returned to normal operations.
- Ground teams say the leakage rate recently rose from about one pound of air per day to roughly two pounds per day, prompting the expedited repair attempt and heightened monitoring.
- The PrK transfer tunnel has shown small, hard‑to‑find cracks since about 2019 that are difficult to inspect because they sit near brackets and plumbing, so engineers have relied on reduced pressure, partial seals, and repeat interventions rather than a single definitive fix.
- Beyond the immediate safety step, the incident renews scrutiny of the ageing ISS because long‑running structural problems complicate evacuation planning, which depends on having enough docked 'lifeboat' spacecraft and on sustained international coordination between NASA and Roscosmos.