New Leak on the ISS Delays Upcoming Axiom Space Mission

The International Space Station (ISS) is experiencing another loss of air pressure, causing delays for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission. This setback comes just after a recent leak was repaired. The launch is now tentatively rescheduled for June 19.

The Axiom-4 mission, initially postponed due to a fuel leak in the SpaceX rocket, faced additional complications with the discovery of a new leak on the ISS. Although a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket was quickly addressed, further examination revealed that air pressure was still dropping within the station.

Prior to this latest development, the Axiom-4 mission was set to make history by sending astronauts from India, Hungary, and Poland to the ISS. However, the mission's timeline has now been significantly affected as NASA conducts further investigations into the current leak.

Leaks on the ISS are not unprecedented. Since 2019, a steady loss of oxygen has been reported from the Russian section of the space station. The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, has conducted multiple attempts to seal these leaks, which were traced to a hatch in the service module known as Zvezda. This module, launched in 1998, is one of the oldest components of the ISS, and the hatch has been kept closed to minimize air loss.

Recently, Roscosmos announced that the leaks in the Zvezda module had been successfully sealed. However, reports indicate that air pressure is still decreasing across the entire station. Speculation suggests that the seals on the hatch to the PrK airlock may not be fully effective, allowing air pressure to infiltrate the lock, creating the illusion of stability while compromising the overall pressure of the ISS.

NASA is currently assessing the situation by adjusting the air pressure in the airlock and monitoring it over time. Although the issue has been known for several years, it has reportedly worsened, with air escaping from the Russian segment at twice the previous rate since early 2024. Despite assurances from NASA that the situation remains manageable and within acceptable limits, efforts are underway to identify and resolve the leak.

The Axiom-4 crew, consisting of international astronauts, will not be allowed to board until NASA has a clearer understanding of the cause behind the declining air pressure. The mission is now slated to launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

As the ISS continues to face challenges related to aging infrastructure, the successful resolution of these leaks remains crucial for maintaining the safety and functionality of the station.