The problem of an air leak on the ISS, which had been troubling astronauts and cosmonauts since 2019, has been resolved. The leak occurred in the Russian segment of the station. NASA representative Josh Finch reported that the pressure in the intermediate chamber of the Zvezda module has stabilized, and no further air loss is being recorded.
The problem arose because of microcracks in the transfer tunnel connecting the Zvezda module with the rest of the ISS. Russian cosmonauts carried out numerous complex sealing procedures, including closing hatches and searching for accumulations of dust indicating the location of the leak.
To eliminate the problem, a special sealant, "Germetall-1", was used, which demonstrated its effectiveness in space. Complicating factors included zero-gravity conditions and hard-to-reach areas for repair.
Despite the successful completion of the work, space agencies continue to closely monitor the condition of the compartment in order to avoid new problems. This incident became yet another reminder of the aging-related issues of the ISS: the Zvezda module has been operating in orbit for 26 years already, which increases the likelihood of various kinds of damage occurring.