Are they planning to evacuate the space station? The expert warns: ‘It could be a disaster!’

NASA-it’s astronauty they should be immediately evacuated from the International Space Station (ISS), all in order to avoid a fatal disaster, warned space expert Nick Pope. Namely, NASA revealed recently that there are worrisome leaks on the space station, and American astronauts were instructed to wait near the escape hatch in case of a necessary evacuation.

NASA adds that this leak is now a “major safety risk”, but they also insist that their astronauts remain on the station. The leak was first discovered in 2019 in the Russian transmission tunnel of the service module that provides the station’s living quarters, life support systems, electrical power distribution and data processing, flight control and propulsion systems. Despiteč With space agencies covering potential cracks, the leaks have only grown faster in recent years. As the leak continues to grow, the situation has been declared the “biggest security risk” this September.

Photo: Profimedia

– There could be a disaster that would kill not only the astronauts, but also NASA’s reputation – added expert Pope.

NASA officials say they have reached an agreement with Roscosmos to use the hatch in the leaking section only when necessary and to keep it closed during the evening. Whenever the hatch is in use, NASA has ordered all astronauts to stay on the American side of the station so they can be closer to their spacecraft in case of emergency. NASA says the module hatch remains closed as much as possible, because if the leak becomes severe, the station could quickly lose pressure and oxygen.

Photo: Profimedia

In the event of such an emergency, all astronauts would have to board their assigned “rescue boats” docked alongside the station. The capsules are equipped with emergency suits, which allow the crew to quickly don the appropriate equipment while escaping from the orbiting laboratory.

NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said that in an emergency, SpaceX’s Dragon could be launched in minutes.