Two astronauts have re-entered the International Space Station after a gruelling spacewalk to patch a persistent air leak, sources confirm. The leak, traced to a crack in the Zvezda module, has been a headache for mission control for months. The repair, described as 'technically challenging' by NASA, involved sealing a 2-millimetre fissure with a specialised epoxy.
The astronauts spent over seven hours in the vacuum of space, their suits a fragile shield against the void. The leak, while small, was bleeding precious oxygen into the cosmos. Questions remain over the long-term integrity of the ageing Russian module, which has been in orbit for over two decades.
One source close to the investigation hinted at 'micro-meteoroid damage or manufacturing flaw'. No official cause has been released. The station's crew, now back inside, will monitor pressure levels closely.
But this is not a one-off fix: it's a bandage on a corroding structure. The space agencies know the clock is ticking.
