Five crew members aboard the International Space Station were directed to seek temporary shelter on Friday while repairs were underway to address a new air leak in the orbital facility.
The astronauts relocated to a SpaceX vehicle docked at the station as cosmonauts addressed the leak, which developed in the Russian section of the space laboratory.
“The decision was made out of an abundance of caution,” NASA spokesperson Bethany Stevens said via X.
After repair efforts were temporarily halted, the crew exited the capsule and resumed their normal duties aboard the station.
This section of the orbiting facility has experienced ongoing issues with structural cracks and air leaks in recent years. NASA reported that Roscosmos opted to conduct more comprehensive repairs following the discovery of additional problems.
Both space agencies continue their efforts to identify what’s causing the structural cracks to develop.
