Finally, some good news for Russia—the space station is no longer leaking

A section of the International Space Station (ISS) that has been plagued by leaks for several years seems to have finally stabilized. The leaks originated from microscopic structural cracks within the PrK module, located in the Russian segment of the ISS, which sits between a Progress spacecraft airlock and the Zvezda module. This long-standing issue has raised concerns for both Russian and American operators of the station, particularly after a concerning increase in the leakage rate in 2024, prompting NASA officials to categorize it as a 'high likelihood' and 'high consequence' risk. Recently, two independent sources reported that the leaks have ceased, and NASA has since confirmed this positive development. Josh Finch, a spokesman for NASA, stated, "Following additional inspections and sealing activities, the pressure in the transfer tunnel attached to the Zvezda Service Module of the International Space Station, known as the PrK, is holding steady in a stable configuration." He emphasized that both NASA and Roscosmos are continuing to monitor the previously detected cracks for any potential changes. For nearly five years, Russian cosmonauts have diligently searched for these elusive leaks, often likening the task to finding a needle in a haystack. Their method involved periodically sealing the hatch to the PrK module, then reopening it to look for small dust accumulations that could indicate the location of leaks. Once identified, they applied a patented sealant called Germetall-1 to the cracks and would then close the hatch to monitor the pressure inside the module, starting the search for additional leaks over and over again. This meticulous process has now culminated in a significant relief for the ISS team.