NASA and Axiom Space are postponing the launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. As part of an ongoing investigation, NASA is working with Roscosmos to understand a new pressure signature, after the recent post-repair effort in the aft most segment of the International Space Station’s Zvezda service module.

Cosmonauts aboard the space station recently performed inspections of the pressurized module’s interior surfaces, sealed some additional areas of interest, and measured the current leak rate. Following this effort, the segment now is holding pressure. The postponement of Axiom Mission 4 provides additional time for NASA and Roscosmos to evaluate the situation and determine whether any additional troubleshooting is necessary. NASA defers to Roscosmos to answer specific questions about the Zvezda module.

A new launch date for the fourth private astronaut mission will be provided once available.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/06/12/nasa-axiom-space-delay-axiom-mission-4-launch-to-space-station/

by opolsce

9 comments

  1. Interesting background from former Caltech and NASA JPL physicist Casey Handmer

    >The ISS’s structural integrity is far more marginal than is being publicly discussed. We are having multiple, and increasingly frequent, leaks from heavily fatigued node segments in the Russian section.

    >When Aluminum gets flexed it fatigues and gets harder, increasing its tendency to crack. Cracks concentrate forces at their tips, and spread over time.

    >Multiple cracks have been discovered.

    >There is no “factor of safety” associated with this failure mode. None of the structural pressure vessels are meant to crack.

    >We are not even single fault tolerant on the structural integrity of the station. We could wake up tomorrow and find, with zero warning, that it has failed catastrophically.

    >Whether that means a leak slow enough to close some hatches, get the crew out or at least into safer parts of the station, is a roll of the dice.

    >It could also depressurize in less than a minute.

    [https://x.com/CJHandmer/status/1933229336683033079](https://x.com/CJHandmer/status/1933229336683033079)

  5. Maybe we didn’t pay enough? Maybe there are premium tier tickets costing more than 65 mln euro that we payed?

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