Russian cosmonauts found the last air leak on the ISS, said the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin. According to the state corporation, it is located in the intermediate chamber of the Zvezda service module. Rogozin wished cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubov "to cure their problems." Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Rogozin said that new equipment problems and a hole in the hull were found at the International Space Station (ISS). He stated this, congratulating the Russian cosmonauts on board the ISS Anton Shkaplerov and Peter Dubrov, reports the Roscosmos website.
“Happy New Year to you! I wish you to cure the problems you encountered both in terms of equipment and in terms of the building itself, "Rogozin said.
He noted that he had already been informed that the astronauts understand how to eliminate the problems found.
“No new problems were found on the Russian segment of the ISS. Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov found a possible last air leak in the intermediate chamber of the Zvezda service module of the ISS Russian segment, ”the press service of Roscosmos said.
They also noted that funds will be delivered to the ISS on the nearest Progress spacecraft to eliminate the leak. After that, the astronauts restore the tightness of the module.
Sami Shkaplerov and Dubrov from the station addressed the Russians with New Year's greetings.
“We wish you health, resilience, well-being and new achievements in the new 2022. Be friendly and happy. Happy New Year, ”the cosmonauts wished. Shkaplerov noted that he and Dubrov will gather at an impromptu festive table with astronauts from other countries.
“Friends, in the remaining hours we want you all to have time to plunge into this magical New Year's mood and say warm words of congratulations to those who are waiting for them,” the astronaut summed up.
Cracks were found in the Zvezdy intermediate chamber in 2019 and 2020. They were sealed, the cause of their occurrence could be a mistake made in production - probably, the seam was incorrectly welded.
In a few years, the ISS will end its service. In early December, NASA announced that it would take about three years for the station to be dismantled from its current operating orbit. According to the plan, the station will enter the atmosphere in such coordinates that the debris fell over an uninhabited region - in the South Pacific Ocean.
The ISS will slowly descend in altitude over several years, and the exact landing time will depend on atmospheric conditions on Earth and solar activity.
Currently, the deadline for the completion of the operation of the station is 2024, but the possibility of extending its operation until 2028 or even until 2032 is being discussed.
In autumn, the last Russian module "Prichal" was delivered to the ISS. It is equipped with five ports for receiving manned and cargo ships, as well as various other modules. Rogozin stressed that the Prichal would be one of the most important prototypes for the creation of its own Russian orbital service station.
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