There may be another source of air leak from ISS - Russian ISS segment manager
MOSCOW. Jan 22 (Interfax) - A powerful microscope will be delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) in order to search for a possible second crack as the source of an air leak, Russian ISS segment manager Vladimir Solovyov said.
"Thus far, we have found one and have suspicions about one more place with a certain lack of airtightness. We are due to deliver a very powerful microscope by a resupply ship, and to use it for examining this place," Solovyov said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 (VGTRK) television channel on Friday.
The information about another source of an air leak from the ISS requires verification, he said.
"There is confidence about one small crack. As to other places, it is still necessary to work, look into, and research," Solovyov said.
A representative of the Mission Control Center said in December 2020 during a conversation with the ISS crew streamed by NASA that it would be necessary to determine the source of the air leak on the ISS in the near future due to the depletion of the station's air reserves.
Roscosmos Executive Director for Crewed Space Programs Sergei Krikalev told Interfax on December 19, 2020, that the main source of the air leak on the ISS had already been found and the leak speed was "miniscule."
The source of the air leak has been isolated by temporary means.
The Roscosmos press service said earlier that the ISS crack was up to 4 centimeters long.