NASA ISS alert: Air leak sparks SpaceX Crew Dragon shelter order, astronauts briefly on evacuation alert... - Moneycontrol.com

Published 5 June 2026 · science

A sudden air leak spike in the Russian segment of the International Space Station triggered a rare emergency response as NASA briefly ordered astronauts into

A sudden air leak spike in the Russian segment of the International Space Station triggered a rare emergency response as NASA briefly ordered astronauts into a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, before reversing the decision within hours after reassessment with Roscosmos. NASA ordered ISS astronauts into a SpaceX capsule after an air leak scare — triggering rare emergency protocols — before calling it off just hours later. No evacuation, but tensions in space ran high. (Photo: AFP) NASA ordered ISS crew to shelter after Russian module air leak Order lifted after Roscosmos paused repairs for joint assessment No evacuation; ISS operations resumed, crew remains safe Did our AI summary help? NASA briefly instructed astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to take shelter inside a docked SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on Friday after a worsening air leak in the Russian segment triggered safety concerns, before reversing the order about two hours later.

The precautionary move involved five crew members — including NASA’s Crew-12 astronauts, a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut — along with another U.S. astronaut already on board. Mission control directed them at 9:04 a.m. ET (1304 GMT) to enter the Crew Dragon spacecraft as engineers assessed a rise in air leakage levels. Leak in Russian Zvezda Module Triggers Safety Alert The alert was linked to a leak in the ISS Zvezda service module, part of the Russian-operated section of the station. While small air leaks have been monitored for years, NASA officials said the leak rate increased on Friday, doubling from around one pound of air per day to two pounds. Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said its teams detected two leaks, sealed one, and were working on the second.

It added that there was no immediate threat to crew safety or station systems. NASA–Roscosmos Dispute Over Repair Approach NASA said the situation escalated after disagreements emerged over repair methods, with Russian crew members proposing more aggressive steps to access the damaged area. This prompted mission control in Houston to activate “safe-haven” procedures as a precautionary measure. The order was later lifted after Roscosmos paused repair work to reassess the situation jointly with NASA engineers. NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said the agency is working closely with its Russian counterparts. “We look forward to working with Roscosmos on a collaborative approach to address the leaks,” she said. No Evacuation, But Rare ISS Emergency Protocol Triggered Although astronauts temporarily sheltered inside the docked spacecraft, NASA confirmed there was no immediate danger and no evacuation of the ISS — an event that has never occurred in the station’s 27-year history.