The NASA Safety Committee warns in “the most dangerous period of its existence.”

The International Space Station (ISS) has been around Earth since 1998, and they are residential groups of astronauts in the minor gravitational environment about 250 miles above the surface of the planet. All this time in space has affected its old devices, and the space station is scheduled to retire over the next few years. Until, however, safety experts warn of long -term issues that threaten ISS safety and crew on board.

During a meeting of the Air Safety Advisory Committee (ASAP), which was held on Thursday, NASA members said that there are increasing risks threatening the space station as it approaches the end of its use, SpaceNews I mentioned. “I have entered ISS to the most dangerous period of its existence,” said Rich Williams, a member of the committee.

At the top of the increasing risk list Leakage From a tunnel connecting the outbreak to a Russian unit. In 2019, the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos reported the discovery of the air leakage in the vestibule (named PRK) that connects the port of the Russian Zvezda unit, which had faded the space agency in a low orbit in July 2000. Progress MS-26 Cargo Spacecraft in February 2024.

NASA and Roscosmos have monitored air leakage since then, and officials of the space agency are scheduled to meet later this month to update the alleviation efforts for the growing safety interest, according to Williams death. A report issued in late 2024 Raising air leakage to the highest level of risk Based on the possibility and severity. Meanwhile, the leakage source is still unknown. Space pioneers are prepared on the ISS to close the opening to the service unit when access is not required in order to reduce the amount of air lost, as well as the leakage itself from the rest of the space station.

Another safety issue that was taken during the meeting is the lack of a plan to get rid of ISS in the event of an emergency. NASA is in the process of consolidation A plan to abandon the space station for nearly one million pounds in 2030Sending her shaving across the Earth’s atmosphere mostly from heat, even though the remaining bit at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean ranges in re -entered the ruled. But starting from now, NASA does not have the applicable emergency plan to ignore ISS, and this is a big problem. If NASA is forced to destroy the space station before its retirement, it increases the risk of a decrease in ISS inhabited areas.

“If there is Deorbit from ISS before delivering (the American Deorbit vehicle), the risks to the public from the disintegration wreckage of ISS will increase by size.” The committee highlighted other issues with ISS, including sufficient spare parts for life support systems on board and delay with shipping shipments. Williams blame these issues for “ISS Budget Lack”.

Williams said: “As programs near the final stages, it is tempting to assume that less resources must be available.” “For ISS, it is important to maintain the budget and adequate resources until the car is safely reinforced.”