NASA announced a postponement of the Ax-4 private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), initially scheduled for June 11th, to June 19th at the earliest. This delay stems from a need to assess a “new pressure signature” detected in a Russian ISS module, specifically the PrK vestibule, following recent repair work. The PrK has experienced small leaks for years, despite attempts by Roscosmos to seal them.
NASA explained that the stable pressure in PrK could indicate sealed leaks or air flowing in from the main station across a hatch seal. The agency is evaluating the condition of the transfer tunnel and hatch seal to ensure the safety of the station. SpaceX has meanwhile confirmed the resolution of a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 booster.
This incident prompted Elon Musk to reiterate his call for the ISS's early retirement within two years, citing safety concerns related to the station's age. He suggested that crewed Starship missions could fill the research gap. This isn't a new stance for Musk; he previously advocated for the ISS's closure "as soon as possible" in February.
“There are potentially serious concerns about the long-term safety of the @Space_Station. Some parts of it are simply getting too old and obviously that risk grows over time,” Musk said in a June 13th social media post. “Even though @SpaceX earns billions of dollars from transporting astronauts & cargo to the ISS, I nonetheless would like to go on record recommending that it be de-orbited within 2 years.”
“I think we need to move on from this ancient space station,” he added. “If necessary, deep space Starship missions with astronauts can fill the gap.”
NASA's current plan, however, involves continuing ISS operations until 2030, albeit with budget cuts impacting crew size and research.