NASA confirmed Thursday that the Russian segment of the International Space Station has resumed leaking atmosphere into space. The problem affects the PrK module, essentially a transfer tunnel attached to the Zvezda Service Module. Engineers have tracked this issue for over five years, struggling to locate and repair microscopic structural cracks causing the persistent atmospheric loss.

The leak first emerged more than half a decade ago, prompting multiple inspections and sealant applications. NASA announced in January that the PrK module had reached a "stable configuration," bringing relief to the space community. However, the atmosphere loss returned three weeks ago after Russian cosmonauts unloaded cargo from the Progress 95 spacecraft. Current data shows approximately one pound per day pressure loss.

NASA spokesperson Josh Finch said teams are maintaining the area at lower pressure with small repressurizations as needed. While astronaut safety remains unaffected and station operations continue normally, the recurring issue raises questions about the ISS's long-term viability. The space agency classifies these leaks as a 5 on its 5×5 risk matrix—both high likelihood and high consequence—with potential for catastrophic failure.

This development reinforces arguments for retiring the ISS in 2030, as aging infrastructure becomes increasingly difficult to maintain safely. The partnership between NASA and Roscosmos continues coordinating next steps, but the repeated nature of these structural problems suggests the station's remaining operational years face mounting technical challenges.