After a mid-night search by astronauts, a minor air leak at the International Space Station was eventually tracked to the Russian side.
NASA said Tuesday that the two Russians and one American on board woke up late Monday to hurriedly close hatches between compartments and check for a continuing leak that seemed to be getting worse. It was the third time in just over a month that the crew had to separate themselves from the Russian side in an effort to locate an increasing leak.
It turned out that instead of the leak getting larger this time, a transient temperature adjustment caused the incorrect cabin air pressure reading according to NASA. The leak was first found a year ago.
NASA officials emphasize that the leak remains minimal and does not pose a threat. The astronauts will now use leak detectors to attempt to locate the leak in Russia’s largest living and working compartment, Zvezda, Russian for Star.
Space Station Deputy Program Manager Kenny Todd said the positive news is that “instead of a lot of haystacks, we’re down to maybe one haystack.” But he continued, “It’s always a needle we’re hunting for.”
NASA is sending extra air storage tanks to the next space station delivery, planned for Thursday’s departure from Virginia. As long as the leak doesn’t escalate, Todd said, the space station’s going to be fine next season.
In two weeks, two Russians and an American are expected to arrive at the Space Station, accompanied by a crew of three Americans and a Japanese on SpaceX’s second astronaut flight, already planned for Oct. 31.
At a news conference in Houston on Tuesday, NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, President, revealed that the SpaceX capsule will be renamed Resilience — a sign of how the planet is handling this year’s problems.
“We hope it will put a smile to your face, and we hope it will make you something good in your life. Frankly, we think it’s an inspiration, “Hopkins said of the name and the task.
