Russian cosmonauts find new cracks in ISS module

FILE PHOTO: The International Space Station (ISS) photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking, October 4, 2018.NASA/Roscosmos/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

MOSCOW

—

Russian cosmonauts have discovered new cracks in a segment of the International Space Station (ISS) that could widen, a senior space official said on Monday, the latest in a series of setbacks.

“Superficial fissures have been found in some places on the Zarya module,” Vladimir Solovyov, chief engineer of rocket and space corporation Energia, told RIA news agency. “This is bad and suggests that the fissures will begin to spread over time.”

ADVERTISEMENT

He did not say if the cracks had caused any air to leak.

The space official has said previously that much of the International Space Station’s equipment is starting to age and has warned there could be an “avalanche” of broken equipment after 2025.

Mayas in space: 2 more PH-made satellites to be launched today

Manage all of your credentials securely with Synology C2 Password

Google AR ‘Measure’ app turns Android phones into virtual measuring tapes

The space station has suffered several recent incidents. Russian officials last month said a software glitch and a possible lapse in human attention were to blame for throwing the ISS out of control.

Jet thrusters on the Russian research module Nauka inadvertently reignited a few hours after it had docked, causing the entire orbital outpost to pitch out of its normal flight position with seven crew members aboard.

Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, also reported last month a drop in pressure in the Zvezda service module, which provides living quarters for crew members on the ISS that was caused by an air leak.

The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, has said it will remain part of the ISS until 2024 and that it is open to extending its participation beyond then.

The latest tech news delivered to your inbox

TOPICS:

International Space Station

,

ISS

,

Russia

,

Space

,

technology

Read Next

Coat plants with an invisible ‘peel’? It’s a way to fight food waste, says US start-up

EDITORS’ PICK

MOST READ

Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.