NASA warned about the possible isolation of the Russian ISS module – RBC

Zvezda is the main module of the Russian segment of the ISS. There are flight control systems, life support systems, a power and information center, as well as cabins for astronauts. This is one of the oldest components of the space station. orbit module thrown out in July 2000, that is, it has been part of the ISS for more than 21 years. The development of the module began in Soviet times: initially it was supposed to become an integral part of the planned Mir-2 station. her body boiled back in 1985. However, after the collapse of the USSR and the reorientation of the ISS project, the module was finalized, modernized and included in the new station.

Air leaks in the module have been fixed for several years. Cases of depressurization on the ISS have been recorded since at least 2019. In August 2020, the leak intensified. First in Roskosmos reclaimedthat occurs on the American segment, but the constant sealing of the station compartments in both the Russian and American halves made it possible to establish that the air was leaving Zvezda.

On October 9, 2020, cosmonaut Ivan Vagner, using modeling clay provided to him by American astronauts, covered up two possible leaks. I do not help. A new possible leak was found in the Zvezda transition module using tea bag: The astronauts launched it in zero gravity and followed its movement following air currents. This time, the hole in the Zvezda’s hull was sealed with special adhesive tape. This method didn’t help either. in november 2020 crack sealed with a special patch sent from Earth, made of rubber and aluminum foil, but this did not solve the problem. In March 2021, to seal holes in the hull, the astronauts used mastic-based adhesive, film and several coats of sealant.

In January 2021, the flight director of the Russian segment of the ISS, Vladimir Solovyov, reported that due to a leak, which is equivalent to a hole with a diameter of 0.2 mm, the air pressure in the station drops 0, 4mm Hg per day. . By spring, the air leaks were reduced three times, but they did not stop completely.

Cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov found the last leak in Zvezda in December 2021. Zvezda’s problems were mentioned by the head of Roskosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, in his New Year’s greetings to the astronauts. “I want your home to be welcoming, so that you can cure the problems that you found there, both in terms of equipment and in terms of the building itself,” he said. According to Rogozin, the management of RSC Energia informed him that the cosmonauts “found some problems and know how to fix them.” Roskosmos promised that the nearest Progress freighter would deliver the funds to repair the leak at the station. According to what was expressed by the state corporation calendar the next Progress will enter orbit only in mid-February.