NASA Directs ISS Astronauts to Shelter in Crew Dragon Amid Russian Module Leak

Ten days ago, NASA directed astronauts aboard the International Space Station to seek emergency refuge in a Crew Dragon spacecraft due to escalating concerns over persistent leaks in a Russian module. The directive came on the morning of Friday, June 5, after Roscosmos proposed an extensive inspection and structural repair effort on the PrK module—a small area attached to the Zvezda service module—that raised safety alarms among NASA officials. The leaks, stemming from cracks first identified in 2019, had resumed in May and intensified in early June, prompting the emergency response. Since the shelter event, neither NASA nor Roscosmos has released additional public information, though sources indicate the problem has been successfully addressed.

Leak Timeline: May Resumption to June 5 Response

The cracks in the PrK module have been an ongoing issue since 2019, with Russian astronauts attempting various fixes using a sealant called Germetall-1. Early this year, Roscosmos reported that the leaks had stabilized. The leaks resumed in May and then increased in early June. On the morning of Friday, June 5, Roscosmos began work toward a more extensive inspection and structural repair effort. A statement from Roscosmos offered no additional information about the proposed solution.

NASA Secures Crew as Russia Revises Repair Plan

The repair plan proposed by Russian officials on June 5 prompted NASA to take the extreme step of securing its astronauts inside the Dragon spacecraft in case of a depressurization event on the space station. Russia later backed off the plan, citing the need to conduct additional measurements and inspections of areas where leaks were occurring. NASA stated that following Russia's decision, Crew-12 and Williams ended their safe haven activities and returned to normal operations aboard the orbiting laboratory.

FAQ

What caused NASA to direct astronauts to take shelter on June 5?

NASA directed astronauts to seek emergency refuge in a Crew Dragon spacecraft after Roscosmos proposed an extensive inspection and structural repair effort on the leaking PrK module that raised safety concerns among NASA officials.

How long have the leaks in the Russian module been occurring?

The cracks in the PrK module attached to the Russian Zvezda service module have been an ongoing problem since 2019. The leaks had stabilized early this year but resumed in May and intensified in early June.