June 5, 2026
NASA has instructed astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to prepare for a possible emergency evacuation after a long-standing air leak in the station’s Russian segment showed signs of worsening.
The leak is located in the PRK transfer tunnel, a small compartment connected to the Zvezda Service Module. According to NASA, the area has been experiencing cracks and air leakage issues for an extended period, raising ongoing concerns among space agencies.
NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said that the Russian space agency Roscosmos has been working to mitigate the effects of the leak and has carried out several partial repair efforts. NASA and Roscosmos are jointly investigating the root cause of the cracks while continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Due to a newly detected increase in leakage, Russian cosmonauts launched a more extensive repair operation on Friday. As a precautionary measure, NASA directed the four members of the SpaceX Crew-12 Mission and NASA astronaut Chris Williams to remain inside their Dragon spacecraft during the repair work and maintain an elevated state of readiness.
The affected PRK module serves as a transfer tunnel linking the station’s main structure to a docking port used by Russia’s Progress spacecraft cargo vehicles.
While no evacuation order has been issued, NASA said crew members must be prepared should conditions deteriorate further.
If an evacuation becomes necessary, it would mark the second astronaut relocation event aboard the ISS this year. Earlier in January, veteran NASA astronaut Mike Fincke was evacuated following a medical emergency, reportedly becoming the first medical-related emergency transfer in the station’s history.
NASA and Roscosmos continue to assess the integrity of the affected module while prioritizing the safety of all personnel aboard the orbiting laboratory.
