NASA postpones launch to investigate space station leaks, delaying Axiom-4 mission for crew safety checks: Report

NASA Axiom 4 mission postponed: The launch of a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed by NASA as it continues to investigate the ongoing air leaks in collaboration with Roscosmos, the Russian Space Agency. The recent repairs to the Russian segment have shown some success, but a new pressure anomaly requires further assessment. NASA emphasised that the crew remains safe and station operations are normal. The delay affects Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission, which was set to transport four private astronauts via SpaceX. NASA and its partners are working to determine a new launch date while prioritising safety and structural integrity aboard the ISS.

NASA and Roscosmos monitor ISS leaks, delay Axiom-4 mission

NASA confirmed in a statement released on Thursday that Russian cosmonauts had recently sealed “some areas of interest” within the Russian segment of the ISS. The sealed module is currently maintaining pressure, which indicates some success in containment efforts. However, NASA also noted the emergence of a “new pressure signature” that is a possible indication of another leak requiring additional analysis.

“Crews need more time to evaluate the situation and determine whether any additional troubleshooting is necessary,” the agency stated.

ISS crew remains safe and operational: NASA reassured

Despite the technical concerns, NASA later reassured the public that the station and its crew remain safe. “The crew aboard the International Space Station is safely conducting normal operations,” the agency confirmed in a second statement.The ISS, which has been in continuous operation for more than two decades, has encountered similar issues in the past. In 2023, NASA reported discovering four significant cracks in the Russian Zvezda module along with nearly 50 other areas deemed “concerning.” This prompted NASA to classify the issue as a top-level safety risk.

NASA restricts access to Russian module as leak risks grow

In response to the ongoing leak issues, NASA and Roscosmos have agreed to restrict access to the affected Russian module. The hatch to this module is now only opened during critical operations. During such periods, NASA requires its astronauts to remain on the US side of the station to ensure they are close to their

SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft

in case of an emergency evacuation.According to The Wahington Post reports, NASA’s Office of Inspector General underscored the seriousness of the situation, noting that leak rates had reached record highs. Investigations have focused on weld points that may have deteriorated over time due to the aging structure of the space station. NASA has plans to continue operations aboard the ISS through 2030. After that, the agency hopes to transition its activities to commercially operated space stations being developed by companies like Axiom Space, Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada, Voyager Space, and Vast.However, with structural issues mounting and timelines for commercial stations uncertain, concerns remain over whether replacements will be ready before the ISS is decommissioned.

Axiom space mission update

According to the reports, there are currently seven crew members aboard the ISS: NASA astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny Kim; Russian cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky; and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi.

They were expected to be joined by four private astronauts on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), launched via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. The mission, commissioned by Houston-based Axiom Space, was designed as a short-duration visit lasting approximately two weeks. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Axiom’s executive chairman Kam Ghaffarian wrote, “We will continue to work with all of our partners to finalize a new launch date and look forward to flying the Ax-4 mission soon.”Also Read | James Webb Space Telescope reveals first exoplanet with 'sand rain' and a growing 'sandcastle' companion, redefining planetary evolution