Leak from a Russian Spacecraft Docked to the International Space Station

 By Amanda Kooser

February 11, 2023

Once more, it took place. According to a statement released by NASA on Saturday, a Russian Progress cargo spacecraft that is connected to the International Space Station has developed a coolant leak. After a Russian Soyuz spacecraft connected to the International Space Station (ISS) leaked coolant in December, this is the second occurrence of this kind in recent months.

Engineers at the Russian Mission Control Center outside of Moscow noticed a depressurization in the coolant loop of the unmanned Roscosmos Progress 82 cargo ship, which is attached to the station's space-facing Poisk module, according to NASA. The source of the leak is being looked into.

The Progress 82, also known as Progress MS-21, which was unmanned, arrived in late October of last year, bringing with it a substantial amount of food, fuel, and supplies. It will undock on Friday, February 17, loaded with garbage for disposal, where it will burn up in the atmosphere.

The crew, which includes of three NASA astronauts, one Japanese astronaut, and three Russian cosmonauts, is safe, which is the most essential thing. NASA reported that the Progress 82's hatches were open and that the station's pressure and temperature were both normal. The crew is not in danger and is carrying on with routine space station operations after being told of the cooling loop leak.

At least no individuals are transported aboard the Progress spaceship. A new strategy was required to return NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin to Earth after NASA and Roscosmos deemed the leaky Soyuz MS-22 unable to do so. In February, the agencies devised a plan to launch a brand-new Soyuz and remove MS-22 from its crew.

The Soyuz leak may have been triggered by a micrometeorite, according to NASA and Roscosmos. It is currently unknown whether the leak is coming from a comparable area or if the Progress issue might be linked to the same source. Although a cargo ship leak isn't as concerning as a Soyuz leak, the proximity of the two events will probably lead to increased scrutiny of Russian spacecraft, particularly as the launch of a "new" Soyuz approaches.