The International Space Station has been quietly leaking air into space for nearly seven years. What started as a minor issue in 2019 has now turned into a significantly concerning issue on the orbiting lab. Despite multiple repair attempts, patches, and continuous monitoring, the leak has never been permanently fixed. The problem has gained renewed focus when new leaks were detected in the same region. But the question remains, why is the leak still not fixed despite causing trouble for nearly a decade now?On Friday (Jun 5), astronauts were briefly placed on alert and instructed to follow “safe haven” procedures, moving into the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to prepare for a potential emergency evacuation if conditions worsened. While the situation was stabilised and no evacuation was ultimately required, the incident underscored a troubling reality: this is not a resolved issue, but an ongoing one.The leak originates from the Russian Zvezda module, specifically in a transfer tunnel used for docking spacecraft. Over time, engineers have identified not one but multiple microscopic cracks in the station’s structure that expand and shift under stress. The ISS is not dealing with a single failure, but an evolving one.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/the-science-behind-why-you-keep-scrolling-and-how-it-rewires-your-brain-1781455009989">The science behind why you keep scrolling – and how it rewires your brain</a><h2>Why is ISS experiencing leaks?</h2>In the unforgiving space environment for materials, the lab experiences extreme temperature changes, from roughly -150 degrees Celcius in shadow to over 120 degrees Celsius in sunlight. Constant pressurisation cycle and decades of use also result in metal fatigue. In addition, small imperfections in welds or structure can slowly grow into cracks, and those cracks can turn into leaks. Being more than 25 years in orbit, way beyond its intended design life, the ISS is showing its age.<h2>Why is repairing leaks on ISS so complex?</h2>Repairing damage on a space lab is far more complex than repairing any other structure when on land. On Earth, engineers could disassemble parts, replace components, or apply precise fixes under controlled conditions. In orbit, none of that is possible. Astronauts must work in microgravity, where liquids like sealants behave unpredictably. Repairs are often carried out from inside the station using epoxy-like materials, which can temporarily plug leaks but cannot restore structural integrity. External repairs require spacewalks, which are risky, expensive, and limited in scope.Complicating matters further is the uncertainty around the exact cause. Even after years of investigation, engineers have not reached a definitive conclusion. It is not known whether it is a manufacturing defect, stress from repeated docking, or simply long-term degradation. Without a clear root cause, any fix becomes a form of trial and error rather than a permanent solution.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/wion-decodes-why-does-coffee-calm-some-people-instead-of-waking-them-up-here-s-what-science-says-1780995139137">WION Decodes | Why does coffee calm some people instead of waking them up? Here’s what science says</a><h2>Not just a technical issue</h2>The issue is not merely a technical issue, but also a political one. The leak is located in the Russian segment of the ISS, which would require coordination between NASA and Roscosmos. Differences in assessment and approach can slow decision-making. Meanwhile, the station is expected to be retired around 2030, which raises a question of whether it is even worth investing in a complex and high-risk permanent fix.As a result, space agencies have resorted to adopting a strategy of risk management. The leaking section can be isolated by closing hatches, and astronauts are trained to respond quickly in case of worsening conditions. The station continues to function safely, even with a small, controlled loss of air.WATCH | G7 Summit 2026: World Leaders Gather For The High Stakes Summit In Evian-Les-Bains <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/g7-summit-2026-world-leaders-gather-for-the-high-stakes-summit-in-evian-les-bains-1781592997144/embed/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/g7-summit-2026-world-leaders-gather-for-the-high-stakes-summit-in-evian-les-bains-1781592997144/embed/embed</a>

The International Space Station is facing renewed concern over a persistent air leak first detected in 2019. Why haven’t the space agencies fixed it for nearly seven years? Here’s everything you need to know.

The International Space Station has been quietly leaking air into space for nearly seven years. What started as a minor issue in 2019 has now turned into a significantly concerning issue on the orbiting lab. Despite multiple repair attempts, patches, and continuous monitoring, the leak has never been permanently fixed. The problem has gained renewed focus when new leaks were detected in the same region. But the question remains, why is the leak still not fixed despite causing trouble for nearly a decade now? On Friday (Jun 5), astronauts were briefly placed on alert and instructed to follow “safe haven” procedures, moving into the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to prepare for a potential emergency evacuation if conditions worsened. While the situation was stabilised and no evacuation was ultimately required, the incident underscored a troubling reality: this is not a resolved issue, but an ongoing one. The leak originates from the Russian Zvezda module, specifically in a transfer tunnel used for docking spacecraft. Over time, engineers have identified not one but multiple microscopic cracks in the station’s structure that expand and shift under stress. The ISS is not dealing with a single failure, but an evolving one. Also read | The science behind why you keep scrolling – and how it rewires your brain Why is ISS experiencing leaks? In the unforgiving space environment for materials, the lab experiences extreme temperature changes, from roughly -150 degrees Celcius in shadow to over 120 degrees Celsius in sunlight. Constant pressurisation cycle and decades of use also result in metal fatigue. In addition, small imperfections in welds or structure can slowly grow into cracks, and those cracks can turn into leaks. Being more than 25 years in orbit, way beyond its intended design life, the ISS is showing its age. Why is repairing leaks on ISS so complex? Repairing damage on a space lab is far more complex than repairing any other structure when on land. On Earth, engineers could disassemble parts, replace components, or apply precise fixes under controlled conditions. In orbit, none of that is possible. Astronauts must work in microgravity, where liquids like sealants behave unpredictably. Repairs are often carried out from inside the station using epoxy-like materials, which can temporarily plug leaks but cannot restore structural integrity. External repairs require spacewalks, which are risky, expensive, and limited in scope. Complicating matters further is the uncertainty around the exact cause. Even after years of investigation, engineers have not reached a definitive conclusion. It is not known whether it is a manufacturing defect, stress from repeated docking, or simply long-term degradation. Without a clear root cause, any fix becomes a form of trial and error rather than a permanent solution. Also read | WION Decodes | Why does coffee calm some people instead of waking them up? Here’s what science says Not just a technical issue The issue is not merely a technical issue, but also a political one. The leak is located in the Russian segment of the ISS, which would require coordination between NASA and Roscosmos. Differences in assessment and approach can slow decision-making. Meanwhile, the station is expected to be retired around 2030, which raises a question of whether it is even worth investing in a complex and high-risk permanent fix. As a result, space agencies have resorted to adopting a strategy of risk management. The leaking section can be isolated by closing hatches, and astronauts are trained to respond quickly in case of worsening conditions. The station continues to function safely, even with a small, controlled loss of air. WATCH | G7 Summit 2026: World Leaders Gather For The High Stakes Summit In Evian-Les-Bains https://www.wionews.com/videos/g7-summit-2026-world-leaders-gather-for-the-high-stakes-summit-in-evian-les-bains-1781592997144/embed/embed

The International Space Station is facing renewed concern over a persistent air leak first detected in 2019. Why haven’t the space agencies fixed it for nearly seven years? Here’s everything you need to know.

WION Decodes | ISS has been leaking for nearly 7 years – Why haven’t we fixed it?

A coolant leak aboard the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft that lasted at least three hours might have been caused by a tiny meteorite strike. The capsule is docked with the International Space Station and started spewing a stream of liquid right before the Russian cosmonauts were about to start a spacewalk on Wednesday. A liquid seems to be escaping from the spacecraft, possibly coolant, a NASA commentator had said.

Dramatic NASA TV images had earlier showed white particles that looked like snowflakes streaming out of the rear of the vessel for hours.&nbsp;

The TASS news agency quoted Sergei Krikalev, a former cosmonaut and head of the crewed space flight program for Russia's space corporation Roscosmos, as saying that the leak may have been caused by a tiny meteorite striking the capsule.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/apparent-leak-from-docked-soyuz-spacecraft-cancels-russian-iss-spacewalk-543161">Apparent leak from docked Soyuz spacecraft cancels Russian ISS spacewalk</a>

"The cause of the leak may be a micrometeorite entering the radiator," TASS quoted Krikalev as saying. "Possible consequences are changes in the temperature regime."

"No other changes in the telemetric parameters of either the Soyuz spacecraft or the (ISS) station on the Russian or American segments have been detected," Krikalev said.

Roscosmos and NASA said the leak did not pose any danger to the astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the ISS.

"The crew members aboard the space station are safe, and were not in any danger during the leak," NASA said.

"Potential impacts to the integrity of the Soyuz spacecraft" are also being evaluated, NASA said.

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&nbsp;

Tiny micrometeoroids are nothing but space rocks, mostly as small as a grain of sand. They are a common part of the space environment and are not known to cause heavy damage to the ISS and other spacecraft that are protected by advanced shielding.

The Soyuz spacecraft in question had carried cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dimitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio to the space station in September as part of the first joint US-Russian flight under a renewed agreement between NASA and Roscosmos. The coolant leak is likely to have an impact on the return flight to Earth by the three crew members in March next year. In case problems persist, NASA and Roscosmos will need to look at other contingency plans.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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A coolant leak aboard the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft that lasted at least three hours might have been caused by a tiny meteorite strike. The capsule is docked with the International Space Station and started spewing a stream of liquid right before the Russian cosmonauts were about to start a spacewalk on Wednesday.

A coolant leak aboard the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft that lasted at least three hours might have been caused by a tiny meteorite strike. The capsule is docked with the International Space Station and started spewing a stream of liquid right before the Russian cosmonauts were about to start a spacewalk on Wednesday. A liquid seems to be escaping from the spacecraft, possibly coolant, a NASA commentator had said. Dramatic NASA TV images had earlier showed white particles that looked like snowflakes streaming out of the rear of the vessel for hours. The TASS news agency quoted Sergei Krikalev, a former cosmonaut and head of the crewed space flight program for Russia's space corporation Roscosmos, as saying that the leak may have been caused by a tiny meteorite striking the capsule. Also Read | Apparent leak from docked Soyuz spacecraft cancels Russian ISS spacewalk "The cause of the leak may be a micrometeorite entering the radiator," TASS quoted Krikalev as saying. "Possible consequences are changes in the temperature regime." "No other changes in the telemetric parameters of either the Soyuz spacecraft or the (ISS) station on the Russian or American segments have been detected," Krikalev said. Roscosmos and NASA said the leak did not pose any danger to the astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the ISS. "The crew members aboard the space station are safe, and were not in any danger during the leak," NASA said. "Potential impacts to the integrity of the Soyuz spacecraft" are also being evaluated, NASA said. × Tiny micrometeoroids are nothing but space rocks, mostly as small as a grain of sand. They are a common part of the space environment and are not known to cause heavy damage to the ISS and other spacecraft that are protected by advanced shielding. The Soyuz spacecraft in question had carried cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dimitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio to the space station in September as part of the first joint US-Russian flight under a renewed agreement between NASA and Roscosmos. The coolant leak is likely to have an impact on the return flight to Earth by the three crew members in March next year. In case problems persist, NASA and Roscosmos will need to look at other contingency plans. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says

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WION Decodes | ISS has been leaking for nearly 7 years – Why haven’t we fixed it?

A tiny meteorite probably struck Soyuz causing a coolant leak, Russian official says