Russian cosmonauts discover new cracks in the International Space Station module

Russian cosmonauts discover new cracks in the International Space Station module

Russian space officials say cosmonauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have discovered new cracks in one of its modules, presenting another challenge for the aging space station. "Shallow cracks have been discovered in some places of the Zarya module," Vladimir Soloviev, chief engineer at rocket and space company Energia, told the Russia-based RIA news agency. "It's bad and suggests that the cracks will start to expand over time." Soloviev did not say whether the cracks caused air to leak from the ISS. News of the cracks comes after last month's incident on the ISS, where a Russian module docked at the station accidentally ignited its thrusters, briefly throwing the station off course. Although the engineers who returned to mission control were able to correct the situation, there are concerns that unexpected stress on the structure may have damaged it in a way and at a location that engineers have not yet identified. There have also been other recent problems, such as last month's report of an air pressure drop on the ISS module Zvezda that was found to be caused by an air leak.

Analysis: the ISS begins to show its age

Although construction of its main section continued until 2011, the ISS has been continuously inhabited since November 2000. In space terms, more than 20 years is a long time to be exposed to the various hazards of a vacuum, especially considering the orbital routine of the ISS. ISS: With each revolution of the earth (which occurs every 90 minutes), the station moves from the extreme cold of space and the heat unshielded from solar radiation as it passes both the night side and the day side of its orbit. All this wear and tear is going to leave a mark, so the fact that there are shallow cracks on the ISS is not unexpected, but it is a reminder that nothing is permanent and that the incredible mission of the ISS is coming to an end. soon. Hopefully these new rifts won't precipitate that end too quickly, as the ISS is expected to operate until at least 2024, with a possible extension to 2028.