Some of the key modules of the [International Space Station](https://mashable.com/article/international-space-station-flipped-why) (ISS) are nearing 25 years in operation. “That’s regarded as classic for an automobile,” noted Bennett Maruca, an astronomer and physicist from the University of Delaware.

Thus, it is not particularly unexpected that one of the station’s initial modules, installed in 2000, has experienced a considerable leak. The problem is found in Russia’s Zvezda service module, especially in the section where it connects to a docking port. The leak was initially discovered five years prior, but the rate of air loss has escalated in 2024. In April, [NASA](https://mashable.com/category/nasa) disclosed that the leakage had reached its highest level recorded, tripling the rate noted in 2019. An updated [Inspector General’s report](https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/oig-reports/NASA/IG-24-020.pdf) from NASA classified these fractures and leaks as a “top safety concern.”

Both NASA and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, are vigilantly observing the scenario. “NASA and Roscosmos continue to analyze onboard and ground test information with the primary goal of pinpointing the root cause, enhancing understanding of the risk to station operations, and carrying out repairs,” stated a spokesperson from NASA’s Johnson Space Center to *Mashable*.

**Challenges of Aging Infrastructure in Space**

The leak underscores the hurdles that NASA faces due to aging yet crucial space infrastructure. The ISS, featuring a living space larger than a six-bedroom home, represents NASA’s sole platform for researching the health ramifications of space on [astronauts](https://mashable.com/article/nasa-twins-scott-kelly-study), assessing life support systems for future endeavors, and promoting advancements in space technology. NASA intends to sustain operations of the station until [2030](https://mashable.com/article/nasa-international-space-station-spacex-deorbit-vehicle), but this necessitates ongoing upkeep and restoration.

“It’s an older station that has accomplished incredible feats,” remarked Don Platt, an associate professor of space systems at Florida Tech.

**Tackling the ISS Leak**

Interestingly, the ISS was engineered to allow for some degree of leakage—*a little*. The station has [eight ports](https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/space-station-facts-and-figures/) for spacecraft, meaning eight hatches must functionally open and close. Some minor leakage was always anticipated, as no seal can be flawless. The sole means to completely eradicate leaks would be to weld the hatches shut, but as Maruca indicated, “That would certainly render the space station fairly ineffective.”

The recent surge in leakage is likely a result of fractures in the Zvezda service module. Space station crew members are exploring potential causes. “Cosmonauts aboard the space station have conducted visual inspections of the interior surfaces of the module using an instrument capable of identifying even the tiniest imperfections,” explained NASA’s spokesperson. Several areas of interest have been recognized for upcoming assessments by Roscosmos. The Russian agency has already applied sealant to certain fractures, which has somewhat mitigated the leakage. Moreover, a Zvezda tunnel hatch has been kept closed as much as possible between dockings to decrease air loss. (NASA and Roscosmos presently hold differing views on the precise cause of the leak, as noted by NASA’s [ISS Advisory Committee](https://spacenews.com/nasa-and-roscosmos-disagree-on-cause-and-severity-of-iss-air-leak/).)

These leaks are microscopic, which is why NASA has concluded they do not pose an immediate threat to the station’s structural integrity or to the crew aboard. Contrary to intense Hollywood portrayals, a small aperture in a space station does not lead to swift depressurization. The air pressure within the ISS is 14.7 psia (pounds per square inch absolute), which is insufficient to induce a catastrophic incident, even if the hole were an inch wide.

Nonetheless, valuable air is still being lost. Fortunately, the ISS orbits [Earth](https://mashable.com/article/earth-pictures-images-from-space), enabling it to be consistently resupplied with oxygen, water, food, and other necessities. The current air loss resembles a gradual leak in a car tire. “It’s a slow leak that allows you to reach the gas station in time,” Platt illustrated. “It’s not the large hole that occurs when you hit a sharp object on the road.”

(However, a crewed mission to [Mars](https://mashable.com/article/nasa-perseverance-rover-mars-discovery-rock-biosignature) would lack the advantage of resupply, making such a leak significantly more perilous.)

**Preserving Oxygen Supply**