ISS Air Leak Delays Axiom-4 Launch, Raises Safety Concerns

NASA, along with Roscosmos, is investigating a small but persistent air leak in the Zvezda service module of the International Space Station (ISS), which has caused the delay of Axiom Space's fourth private astronaut mission, Ax-4. The leak, traced to the Russian segment of the ISS, has been monitored for several years and identified as a top safety risk, prompting recent repair efforts by cosmonauts aboard the station to seal affected areas and stabilize pressure. While there is no immediate danger to the seven astronauts currently aboard, NASA continues to evaluate the repairs to determine if the leak has been fully resolved before scheduling a new launch date, which was initially set for June 12 but may now occur around June 19. The delay also follows a liquid oxygen leak in the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket intended for the mission, which has since been repaired. The ongoing issues highlight concerns about the aging ISS's structural integrity and the challenges of maintaining the orbital laboratory, which is planned for retirement by 2030. Axiom Space, which commands the mission led by Peggy Whitson, is coordinating closely with NASA amid these developments, emphasizing safety as the top priority.