Astronauts working on the International Space Station briefly sheltered in a docked capsule on Friday while their Russian colleagues assessed the damage caused by the leak, NASA said.
As a precaution, five astronauts briefly boarded the docked Dragon spacecraft, which serves as a lifeboat in case an evacuation is necessary.
NASA gave the go-ahead, and the astronauts were able to return to their stations.
A NASA spokesman told AFP that Roscosmos cosmonauts have measured the leaks and are currently analyzing the data.
«"During today's operations, they wanted to ensure maximum safety, take extra precautions and ensure the crew was transferred to a safe position," the spokesman said.
NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens then stated on social media that "NASA has instructed crew members aboard the Dragon spacecraft to complete safe haven procedures and return to scheduled operations on the International Space Station.".
In a statement cited by Russian state media, the Roscosmos space agency said a leak was detected in the bypass chamber (PrK) during overpressurization.
«"During the inspection of the PrK, the cosmonauts discovered two potential air leaks. The first was quickly sealed by applying a first layer of the two-component sealant Germetal-1. The second leak is located on the conical portion of the PrK. Preparations are underway to seal it," the statement reads.
NASA spokesman Stevens previously stated that cracks and leaks had been observed in the transfer tunnel for some time.
«"NASA and Roscosmos are working to determine the root cause of the cracks, and Roscosmos is addressing the issue through rapid mitigation measures and periodic partial repairs," she said.
NASA and Russia's Roscosmos are the two main operators of the International Space Station.
Continuously inhabited for the past twenty-five years, the aging ISS is scheduled to be launched into low Earth orbit before crashing into an isolated location in the Pacific Ocean in 2030.
The ISS, once a symbol of warming relations after the end of the Cold War, has become a rare area of continued cooperation between the West and Russia since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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