NASA ordered five astronauts aboard the International Space Station to shelter in a docked SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on June 5 as Russian cosmonauts worked to repair a worsening air leak in the Zvezda service module, the station’s Russian segment. The leak, which had escalated on Monday from approximately one pound of air per day to two pounds, prompted the precautionary move while crews made extensive repairs to the transfer tunnel.
The shelter order was brief. By mid-afternoon, NASA lifted the precautionary directive after repairs were paused, allowing the crew to return to normal operations aboard the station. Astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, and Chris Williams, along with one additional crew member, had taken refuge in the Dragon capsule while donning spacesuits in case an emergency evacuation became necessary.
The Zvezda module has been the focus of ongoing leak concerns for months. NASA has worked with Russian counterparts and international partners to find a more permanent solution to the recurring cracks and air loss. According to a NASA spokeswoman, the decision to shelter was made “out of an abundance of caution” as the aging space station continues to experience structural challenges in its Russian segment.
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Seven astronauts are currently aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 74. The Crew-12 contingent, which includes the four American and European astronauts who sheltered in Dragon, are scheduled to depart in September.
Sources
- USA Today — Details on the shelter order, crew members involved, and the escalation from one to two pounds of air loss per day on Monday
- Space.com — Confirmation of the Dragon shelter order and NASA’s precautionary measures
- Reuters/BBC/CNN — Reporting on the worsening leak in the Zvezda module and the shelter directive
