NASA tells astronauts to shelter in SpaceX Dragon due to new ISS leaks

NASA has instructed five astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to take refuge in a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. This precautionary measure comes as Russian engineers work to address newly identified leaks in a service module, according to NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens. In a recent update shared on X, Stevens explained that Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, has initiated an extensive repair operation on the service module. "Out of an abundance of caution, NASA has directed all four members of the SpaceX Crew-12 team, along with NASA astronaut Chris Williams, to adopt an elevated safety posture within the Dragon spacecraft while repairs are underway," she stated. The service module has been facing issues with leaks for some time, which have been closely monitored by NASA. Stevens highlighted that these cracks have been a longstanding concern. As for the duration of the astronauts’ stay in the Crew Dragon capsule, no specific timeline has been provided. Both NASA and SpaceX have yet to comment on the situation. At present, the ISS is home to ten astronauts, including four who arrived as part of the long-duration SpaceX Crew-12 mission in February. The remaining crew includes a mix of NASA astronauts and Russian cosmonauts who arrived on a Soyuz mission last November. This latest repair operation and the subsequent shelter directive occur amid ongoing discussions about the future of the ISS, with NASA exploring the possibility of replacing the aging station with commercially manufactured modules in the coming years under the leadership of new administrator Jared Isaacman.