The International Space Station continues to lose oxygen, but the situation is under control, Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Saturday, adding that the agency was ready to send an additional supply of oxygen if the problem escalates.
The leak affects the Russian section of the ISS, with the fault apparently located in an access section to the Zvezda module. The exact location is still unclear, Russian media reported.
“We have had this leak for quite some time, the rate is very small, nothing has happened. One of the leaks was found and reduced, but it still remains,” he told the Russian news agency Interfax, the director of the Roscosmos program, Sergei Krikalev.
The pressure to find the source of the leak increases as oxygen reserves and air pressure continue to decrease.
The cause of the damage is unknown
In October, a 4.5-centimeter (1.7-inch) tear was already discovered with the help of a floating, sealed tea bag.
The astronauts, unaware of the cause of the damage, realized that there was another leak from other locations in the same section of the 20-year-old spacecraft. However, they failed to find the fault during a spacewalk in November.
Astronauts are considering sealing the affected section and using oxygen reserves, but say this would affect the overall operation of the ISS.
“Everything is under control”
Roscosmos has said there is no danger to the seven people aboard the ISS, which includes four Americans, two Russians and a Japanese astronaut.
The head of the agency, Dmitry Rogozin, assured the public that there were oxygen reserves on board and that a cargo delivery scheduled for February would include oxygen.
“First of all, the station itself has oxygen reserves. That is, if it is necessary to replenish oxygen and nitrogen in case of loss of atmospheric pressure, we have these reserves. And we will send a cargo ship to the ISS in February. It already has oxygen supply, “Rogozin told the Russian news agency TASS.
“If necessary, we can use our relationship with NASA and send part of the cargo, including oxygen, with an American cargo ship,” Rogozin said. “You don’t have to worry, everything is fine, everything is under control.”
mvb / dj (dpa, Interfax)