It’s not a revelation to say that the International Space Station is showing signs of wear and tear. After all, although some modules are recent, the main structure has been in orbit for more than 25 years. But recently, incidents have multiplied in the Russian zone, to the point of questioning the viability of the ISS and the safety of the astronauts on board. NASA, as well as the Russian space agency, had nevertheless adopted a rather reassuring speech on this subject.
Several cracks identified in the ISS
If we are to believe the Washington Post, the reality would be very different. The Russian space agency has reportedly identified four cracks and fifty areas of concern in its section of the ISS, forcing NASA to develop an emergency evacuation plan.
In an interview with the Washington Post, NASA Associate Administrator James Free assures us that the situation is under control. The solution found nevertheless seems rudimentary, “we have reported the severity of the leaks several times“, explains James Free, before adding, “we reached a compromise: they will close it in the evening. »
Clearly, we are far from an optimal solution. Roscosmos, for its part, uses putty to seal reported leaks. The Russian agency also specified that it “will continue to evaluate these areas and apply sealants and patches as necessary.» To ease concerns a little, it is also clarified that some of the areas of concern are actually benign imperfections, such as small scratches.
