NASA clears ISS crew to resume duties after precautionary sheltering during Russian module air leak repairs

NASA told five astronauts to return to normal duties on the International Space Station after they temporarily sheltered inside a docked SpaceX Crew Dragon. Repairs on air leaks in the Russian Zvezda module were paused while engineers review new measurements and data.

The incident highlights the ISS’s growing maintenance burden as aging hardware continues to develop persistent issues. Even when risks are contained, recurring leaks in the Russian segment could increase pressure on station partners to refine end-of-life planning and crew safety protocols.

Astronauts told to return to ISS after sheltering over air leak repairs