NASA is set to launch a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as soon as June 19, despite an ongoing air leak issue in one of the station’s modules. The mission, Ax-4, was initially scheduled for June 11 but was postponed after a liquid oxygen leak was detected in one of the engines.
The air leak is caused by a small hole in the vestibule, also known as PrK, which connects a docking port to the rest of the module. NASA has been assessing the situation and monitoring pressure in the vestibule to determine if the leaks have been sealed. The agency believes that the stable pressure could be due to a small amount of air flowing into the transfer tunnel across the hatch seal from the main part of the station.
NASA is working closely with SpaceX and Axiom Space to review launch opportunities for Ax-4. The agency has confirmed that SpaceX corrected the liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 booster during a tanking test on June 12. NASA is making progress in evaluating the condition of the transfer tunnel and hatch seal, allowing them to plan for new launch opportunities.
The air leak issue has raised concerns about the long-term safety of the ISS, with Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, calling for an early retirement of the station. Musk believes that parts of the ISS are getting too old and pose a risk to its long-term safety. He has called for the ISS to be de-orbited within two years, citing concerns about its incremental utility.
However, NASA’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal calls for continuing the ISS to 2030, with budget cuts that would reduce its crew size and research. Despite Musk’s comments, it appears that the ISS will continue to operate until at least 2030.
Source: https://spacenews.com/nasa-sets-new-potential-launch-date-for-ax-4-mission-to-iss