NASA asks ISS astronauts prepare for possible evacuation due to air leak

Posted on by Taiwo Adebulu

1 min readUpdated: Jun 5, 2026 08:18 PM IST

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been ordered by NASA to shelter inside their spacecraft and prepare for a possible evacuation after an air leak worsened in a Russian section of the orbital laboratory.

According to Reuters, a Russian crew is attempting to fix the worsening leak on its portion of the station.

The issue involves Russia’s Zvezda service module, one of the key structures of the football field-sized laboratory jointly operated by NASA and Russia’s space agency Roscosmos. The two agencies have reportedly debated for months over the cause of recurring small air leaks and possible fixes.

A senior NASA official, speaking anonymously, said the leak escalated on Monday from a pound of air loss per day to two pounds.

At 9:04 a.m. ET on Monday, NASA mission control instructed the four astronauts of NASA’s Crew-12 mission to enter their docked Crew Dragon spacecraft and put on their spacesuits, according to a NASA official.

The four-member crew includes two US astronauts, one French astronaut and one Russian cosmonaut.

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.

A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.

All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.

Core Team

The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:

Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.

Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.

Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. … Read More

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram

More details here...

Related Posts