The International Space Station (ISS) is facing an unexpected hurdle: an air leak in its aging Russian module has forced NASA to delay a private astronaut mission indefinitely. A chartered flight by Axiom Space, carrying explorers from India, Poland and Hungary, was slated to begin a two-week stay, marking a milestone for those nations in decades.
NASA detected irregular cabin pressure readings on the Russian side of the orbiting lab and decided to hold off on any new arrivals until the source of the leak is fully understood. Although seven crew members on board remain safe and standard operations continue, the delay underscores the challenges of maintaining a 24-year-old service module.
Since its launch in 2000, the Zvezda module has been patched multiple times, but recent fixes led to fresh pressure signatures that caught NASA’s attention. Russian astronauts performed an internal inspection, sealed vulnerable spots, and measured leak rates. Current data shows the section is now holding pressure, but engineers need more time to confirm its long-term stability.
SpaceX was preparing to launch four private astronauts—including retired NASA veteran Peggy Whitson—when bad weather and rocket issues pushed the timeline. The station leak added another layer of caution. Axiom Space’s leadership emphasized that safety comes first and that teams are working to lock in a new lift-off date.
The delay also offers NASA and the Russian Space Agency a window to plan further repairs or upgrades. With ISS operations extended to 2030, the world’s largest orbital lab remains a critical testbed for future commercial outposts. Axiom Space is among the companies racing to develop privately owned stations, aiming to ensure uninterrupted low-Earth orbit research.
For now, the four astronauts remain in quarantine in Florida, ready to embark on what would have been a landmark mission. As engineers track every pressure change hundreds of kilometers above Earth, the pause serves as a reminder of both the risks and the pioneering spirit driving the next chapter of space exploration.
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Space station air leaks trigger delay to private astronaut mission
cgtn.com
