NASA and Russia at Odds Over ISS Air Leak Concerns

The International Space Station (ISS) is experiencing an increasing air leak in its Russian section, with NASA and Roscosmos disagreeing on the cause and severity. The leak, first detected in 2019, has doubled in rate, prompting NASA to elevate its risk level. While Russian teams attribute the leak to micro vibrations, NASA suspects multiple factors including mechanical stress. Both agencies are monitoring the situation and may close the hatch to the affected module if necessary, though this would reduce docking capacity. The disagreement highlights challenges in managing the aging ISS, which is nearing retirement.