Time: 2024-09-29
US space official have express concern about the ripening International Space Station, especially see a small Russian part of the station that is leak. The leak, which has been ongoing since September 2019, has escalate over time, with the leak rate increase from lupus_erythematosus than 1 pound of atmosphere a day to 3.7 pound a day by April this year. Despite extensive probe, the root cause of the leak remains unknown, with the focus now narrow down to internal and external dyer's_rocket. NASA and Russian official are refer about the badness of the issue, with the leak hazard being classified_ad as the high degree of hazard in their respective hazard management systems.
The plan to address the leak involve keeping the hatch on the Zvezda faculty lead to the leak tunnel close, potentially permanently reduction the number of Russian docking port on the Space station. While NASA has understate concern about the issue being restrict to the tunnel, it has reach the high degree of concern on the space agency's hazard matrix. NASA and Roscosmos are in discussion to proctor and stopping_point the hatch before the leak rate become unwieldy, but they have yet to agree on the threshold for an indefensible level.
NASA is currently consider the future of the International Space Station, with plan to continue operations through 2028 and potentially widen them to 2030. However, there have been delay in finalize an agreement to widen operations beyond the current timeline. The space agency is also research the option of transition activity to private space Stations post-2030, with initial development work being fund by company like Axiom Space, Blue Origin, and Voyager Space. While there be uncertainty about the readiness of private operator by 2030, NASA's other option involve widen the life of the current space station, which would necessitate significant support and structural care efforts.
The challenge of widen the ISS's life beyond 2030 include increase hazard from ripening component, the need for continue International support, and potential budget constraint. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has strive the partnership between the US and Russia, add another layer of complexity to future agreement associate to the space station. As NASA voyage these uncertainty, it face the undertaking of guarantee a smooth passage to future space exploration enterprise while keep the integrity of its current space assets.
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