Russia's service module leaks again, NASA instructs astronauts to move to SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for safety

The United States Space Administration (NASA) stated that due to a new leak in the Russian service module of the International Space Station, it has instructed the five astronauts in orbit to temporarily transfer to the docking SpaceX "Crew Dragon" spacecraft for safety. NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens posted on the social platform

Stevens pointed out that out of an "abundance of caution", NASA has required the four astronauts on the 12th Crew Dragon long-term residency mission executed by SpaceX, as well as NASA astronaut Chris Williams, to enter the Crew Dragon spacecraft during maintenance and maintain an enhanced safety alert. She said that NASA is working closely with Russia and other international partners that provide support for the International Space Station to find a more long-term and fundamental solution.

The leakage problem in the Russian service module has been going on for some time, and related cracks have always been a safety hazard that NASA is "highly concerned about". It's unclear how long astronauts will need to stay in the Crew Dragon spacecraft, and NASA and SpaceX have not provided further clarification or responded to media requests for comment.

There are currently 10 astronauts on the International Space Station. Four of them (including two NASA astronauts, one European Space Agency astronaut and one Russian astronaut) arrived at the space station on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in February this year to carry out the longer Crew-12 mission. The other three people (one NASA astronaut and two Russian astronauts) arrived at the space station on a Russian "Soyuz" spacecraft in November last year.

This maintenance operation and temporary "transfer and avoidance" arrangements occurred at a time when the future fate of the International Space Station is also facing uncertainty. Under the leadership of new administrator Jared Isaacman, NASA is promoting a plan to replace the aging space station with a module developed by a commercial company later this decade to implement national space policy goals.