The word “evacuation” is especially scary to the International Space Station crew. Two of the astronauts already aboard have been keeping their fingers crossed that their emergency priority ride home happens in February. Now, they’re all in the same jam. Hopefully, the habitat won’t suddenly explode before they’re out. At least, they won’t be drawing lots for available seats.
Crew planning escape
The current crew of astronauts aboard the International Space Station “have been told to prepare for an urgent evacuation amid growing safety concerns.” While that word usually means “removal of people from danger,” it has more ominous ones as well.
Mission control could just as easily be talking about the sudden discharge of the station’s atmosphere. That’s the one they’re really getting ready for.
NASA never actually got around to building the lifeboat craft called for in the original plans but that’s okay. Two capsules are currently docked. There’s a Russian one slated to carry the two cosmonauts.
Hooked to the American side is a Space X Dragon Freedom. With a rated capacity of seven, it could carry the Russians in a pinch, along with the five U.S crew members.
Right now, NASA and Roscosmos “are tracking 50 ‘areas of concern’ related to a growing leak aboard the station.” One of the things that concerns the crew is finding it. They’ve been trying for months and spraying sealant on any likely suspects. It keeps getting worse.
Blaming the Russians for it won’t help but it’s all their fault. “NASA is now calling the cracks in a Russian service module a ‘top safety risk‘ – escalating the threat rating to five out of five.”
Stay on your side
Out of caution, the American astronauts have been told to stay in their half of the tin can. Especially, if anyone needs to open the hatch to the troublesome module.
The crew needs to scoot fast to the Dragon capsule if the alert starts beeping. Or if a hole suddenly explodes in the problem connecting tunnel. That’s become a real possibility.
Although “officials have been aware of the issue since 2019,” officials note, “the exact source of the leak is still unknown.” The crew has been trying their best.
“All potential cracks have been covered with ‘a combination of sealant and patches.’” The rate peaked in April and it’s only down since because they’re not using the affected module and keeping the pressure down.
NASA engineers are going spastic as one warning sign after another inches up into the red. “Concerns over the station’s safety are now so high that NASA has negotiated with Roscomos to only open the hatch when absolutely necessary and to keep it sealed in the evenings.”
The crew doesn’t have much they can do about it but they’re doing their best to keep their mind off of explosive decompression. Meanwhile, they’re sleeping tied to the exit hatch and noticing every tiny draft of the ventilation system.
