NASA orders ISS crew into spacecraft amid urgent air leak repair on orbiting station

NASA temporarily directed astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to take shelter inside a docked SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Friday, as engineers attempted emergency repairs on a newly detected air leak in the Russian segment of the orbital laboratory.

According to NASA officials and multiple space agency reports, the precautionary measure was triggered after a pressure drop was detected in the Zvezda service module, a key Russian-built section of the ISS that has experienced recurring structural issues in recent years.

The five-member crew; including astronauts from NASA and international partners, were instructed to board the Dragon capsule and remain in a “safe haven” configuration while Roscosmos engineers worked to locate and seal the leak.

Initial repair efforts reportedly involved sealing one identified leak, but operations were temporarily paused as a second leak required further assessment. While the situation raised concern, space agencies confirmed there was no immediate danger to the crew, as station pressure remained within safe limits.

After several hours of monitoring and reassessment, NASA later lifted the shelter-in-place order, allowing astronauts to return to normal operations aboard the station.

The ISS has faced repeated air leak challenges since 2019, particularly in aging Russian modules, prompting ongoing inspections and coordinated repair efforts between NASA and Roscosmos.

Officials say investigations into the latest leak are continuing, with both agencies maintaining that the station remains stable and safe for continued habitation.