Two British astronauts on the International Space Station were forced into emergency shelter last night as a sudden air leak triggered a frantic repair operation. Sources confirm the leak originated in a Russian module, prompting the crew to seal themselves in the US segment while ground teams scrambled to isolate the breach. The astronauts, identified as Commander James Henderson and Flight Engineer Sarah Blake, are said to be safe after a tense 90-minute operation.
NASA officials described the incident as 'serious but contained,' though they refused to comment on the cause of the leak. This is the third pressurisation issue on the ISS in two years, raising questions about the ageing station's long-term viability. Documents obtained by this paper show that a 2023 internal safety audit warned of 'critical corrosion risks' in the Russian Zarya module.
The leak was eventually patched using a Kapton tape and epoxy resin method developed by Roscosmos engineers. 'The crew acted with extraordinary professionalism,' said a NASA spokesperson, declining to name the source of the leak. But industry insiders point to a pattern: seven similar incidents have been recorded since 2018, all linked to Russian-made components.
The British Space Agency confirmed the pair are scheduled to return to Earth on 12 June aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. Meanwhile, the ISS continues to orbit at 254 miles above our heads, a monument to international cooperation held together by little more than hope and duct tape.
