The International Space Station (ISS) has been in orbit since 1998 but is nearing retirement due to aging hardware. As safety experts warn, long-running issues threaten the station’s safety and the crew on board. A recent meeting of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) highlighted growing risks, including a significant air leak from a Russian module.
The air leak, which doubles every week, has led NASA and Roscosmos to monitor its effects closely. However, the source remains unknown, forcing astronauts to take measures to minimize air loss by closing hatch access when not needed. Another critical issue is the lack of an emergency deorbit plan for the ISS in case of an emergency.
If the station were to be destroyed ahead of its scheduled retirement in 2030, it would increase the risk of debris falling on inhabited areas, posing a significant threat to public safety. NASA plans to send the space station into Earth’s atmosphere in 2030 but has no current plan to deorbit it in an emergency situation.
These issues have been attributed to a “budget shortfall” for the ISS, with spare parts for life support systems being insufficient and cargo deliveries delayed. Safety experts stress that maintaining adequate resources until the ISS is safely reentered is crucial to avoid increased risks to public safety.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/the-iss-is-in-the-riskiest-period-of-its-existence-nasa-safety-panel-warns-2000591365