International Space Station Air Leaks Addressed
NASA is currently evaluating data that strongly suggests persistent air leaks aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been successfully sealed. The small, but long-standing leaks were located in a vestibule known as the PrK, which serves as a passageway connecting the station’s Zvezda module to its aft docking port.
First detected in 2019, previous efforts to eliminate these leaks had been unsuccessful. However, Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, reported on Friday that their cosmonauts aboard the orbiting outpost successfully completed repairs. NASA confirmed on Saturday that pressure in the transfer tunnel has since remained stable, noting that this stability “could indicate the small leaks have been sealed.” Earlier leak rates were thought to potentially be related to a minor amount of air flowing across a hatch seal from the main station sections.
Teams on the ground are now analyzing pressure monitoring data collected over time to verify the condition of the transfer tunnel configuration following the repair. This assessment is critical for clearing upcoming station operations.
Impact on Axiom-4 Mission Launch
The status of the ISS air leaks was a key factor in the recent delays faced by the privately-funded Axiom-4 research mission. Chartered by Houston-based Axiom Space, this flight aims to send four private astronauts to the space station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The Axiom-4 launch had already experienced multiple postponements, initially due to unfavorable high winds in the offshore emergency splashdown zone and later because of troubleshooting for an oxygen leak found in the first stage of the mission’s Falcon 9 rocket. While SpaceX worked to resolve the rocket issue, NASA managers determined they needed additional time to fully assess the recent efforts to stop or minimize the ISS air leaks before giving the green light for the Axiom-4 mission launch.
New Target Launch Date Emerges
With the positive indication regarding the sealed leaks, and pending final verification by NASA, an updated launch opportunity for the private astronaut mission has emerged. The Axiom-4 mission could now launch as early as Thursday, June 20, 2025.
Based on the International Space Station’s orbit and rendezvous requirements, a Thursday takeoff from Florida’s Space Coast would likely be targeted for 4:53 a.m. EDT. If this schedule holds, the four-person crew is expected to aim for a docking at the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module around 10:30 a.m. EDT on Friday, June 21.
Meet the Axiom-4 Crew
This flight marks the fourth Crew Dragon mission chartered by Axiom Space. The diverse international crew is commanded by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson. She is joined by pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, researcher Sławosz Uznański from Poland, and engineer Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
During their planned two-week mission aboard the ISS, Whitson and her crewmates are slated to conduct a full agenda of science research and technology demonstrations. They also plan to engage in interactive educational events with their home countries. The crew has undergone extensive training for space station operations and will have full access to the U.S. segment of the orbital laboratory.
Commander Whitson highlighted one of the primary objectives: “realizing the return of these three countries to space,” noting that this will be the first time these specific individuals travel to the International Space Station. The potential successful repair of the ISS air leaks removes a significant hurdle, paving the way for this commercial spaceflight milestone.
