Fact check: Do NASA astronauts have to evacuate the leaky ISS?

Speculation about leaks on the International Space Station (ISS) is increasing, with media reports suggesting NASA astronauts may have to be evacuated or face dire consequences.

Concerns escalated after a report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) called these leaks a “major security risk.”

This has led some to question whether an emergency evacuation could be imminent. But does this situation pose an immediate danger to the astronauts on board?

The origin of concern about leaks on the ISS

Leaks on the ISS have been a known problem since 2019, when the first leak was discovered in the Russian part of the station, particularly in the service module transfer tunnel.

This part connects a docking port to the main module and is not a critical area for the ISS.

NASA and the Russian space agency Roscosmos are currently managing the situation by keeping the leaky hatch closed where possible, effectively minimizing the risk.

In September 2024, a new OIG report found that leaks remained a major concern, citing cracks and air leaks as ongoing safety risks.

Following the report, NASA officials confirmed this The Washington Post that they are closely monitoring four cracks and 50 other “problem areas.”

Although the frequency and size of leaks are increasing, NASA and Roscosmos have worked together to identify the root cause, monitor new breaches and assess the overall integrity of the station.

Is the situation on the ISS serious?

While the ISS does indeed leak small amounts of air into space, the leaks are currently manageable.

In April 2024, the leak rate peaked at 3.7 pounds of air per day. To put that in perspective, the atmospheric pressure exerted on one square inch of Earth's surface weighs about 15 pounds.

While this loss is concerning, it does not yet pose an imminent threat to the safety of the astronauts. The OIG report itself emphasized that the service module transfer tunnel leak “does not pose an imminent threat to the structural integrity of the station.”

However, NASA increased the risk associated with this leak in its internal system after the problem worsened in mid-2024. According to the OIG, the service module leak is now classified as the highest risk in NASA's risk management system.

NASA's plan to contain leaks on the ISS

NASA and Roscosmos remain confident they can control the leaks by monitoring the situation and closing off certain areas if necessary. They have not yet reached consensus on what would constitute an “unsustainable” leak rate, but both agencies believe they are still far from that threshold.

The ISS is expected to continue operations until 2030 and will be decommissioned thereafter. At this point, the ISS will enter the Earth's atmosphere, where it will burn up upon re-entry, marking the end of its mission, which has so far lasted more than 25 years.

Verdict: No immediate danger to astronauts on the ISS

Despite the leaks and the OIG's heightened concern, there is no reason for immediate evacuation or panic. NASA is committed to addressing these risks together with Roscosmos and expects that with current mitigation measures, the ISS will remain operational and safe for its crew through the end of the decade.

In summary, air leakage on the ISS is a manageable problem for now, and while the increased level of risk requires careful monitoring, it is far from a reason to send astronauts home.

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