NASA has been tight-lipped about a persistent leak on the International Space Station (ISS) that has plagued the orbiting laboratory for five years. Now, a new report from the agency’s inspector general has revealed the extent of the problem and the risks it poses to the ISS and its crew.
The leak, which was first detected in 2017, is located in the station’s Russian segment. It has been gradually worsening over time, and NASA now considers it the highest-level risk to the ISS’s safety.
The inspector general’s report found that the leak is the result of a crack in a weld in a module that was added to the ISS in 2010. The crack is located in a difficult-to-reach area, and it has been challenging for NASA to repair.
NASA has been working on a fix for the leak, but so far, its efforts have been unsuccessful. The agency is now considering more drastic measures, such as replacing the entire module. However, this would be a complex and time-consuming process, and it would require the ISS to be temporarily evacuated.
The leak is a major concern for NASA, as it could potentially lead to a loss of pressure on the ISS. This could result in a catastrophic failure of the station, which would be a major setback for the space program.
NASA is doing everything it can to fix the leak, but it is clear that this will be a challenging and time-consuming process. In the meantime, the agency is taking steps to mitigate the risk of a catastrophic failure, such as increasing the number of crew members on the ISS and stockpiling supplies.
The leak on the ISS is a reminder of the challenges of operating a complex and aging spacecraft in space. It is also a reminder of the importance of international cooperation in space exploration. The ISS is a joint project of the United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe, and it has been a major success for international cooperation. However, the leak on the ISS also shows that even the most successful projects can face unexpected challenges.
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