Russian Space Program Faces Doubts as ISS Suffers Third Coolant Leak

The Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) experienced its third coolant leak in less than a year, raising concerns about the reliability of the country's space program. The coolant leak, originating from the backup radiator circuit of the Nauka module, was confirmed by NASA and Russian space agency Roscosmos. While officials stated that the crew and the station were not in danger, the repeated leaks highlight the degrading reliability of Russian space systems. Speculation suggests a potential systematic issue or fault with a subcontractor company. The Russian space sector has been facing difficulties due to funding, failures, and corruption scandals. The ISS remains one of the few areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States amid ongoing tensions.