On June 12, 2025, NASA announced that it would monitor cabin pressure on the Russian side of the International Space Station (ISS) before permitting new visitors.

The Russian Space Agency is currently addressing a cabin pressure leak in the ISS, with recent inspections revealing a new pressure signature that is still under evaluation.

This ongoing issue with leaks and cracks in the Russian compartments has been a concern for over five years, classified as a significant safety risk by NASA's Office of Inspector General.

Despite these leak concerns, NASA confirmed that the seven astronauts currently aboard the ISS are safe and that ongoing operations remain unaffected.

The launch of four private astronauts by SpaceX, initially scheduled for this week, has faced delays due to bad weather, rocket issues, and the recent leak concerns at the ISS.

This delay allows both NASA and the Russian Space Agency time to assess the situation and determine if further repairs are necessary before the mission can proceed.

Additionally, a chartered spaceflight for the first astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary in decades has been indefinitely delayed due to the same leak concerns.

The mission was organized by Axiom Space, marking their fourth trip to the ISS with paying customers since 2022, and their executive chairman emphasized the decision to delay as prudent.

Kam Ghaffarian, Axiom Space's executive chairman, stated that postponing the flight is the right decision, and they will work with partners to finalize a new launch date.

Looking ahead, NASA plans to keep the ISS operational until 2030, after which it aims to replace it with privately owned stations, with Axiom Space being a key player in this transition.

In the meantime, the four astronauts, led by retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, are currently in quarantine in Florida until the situation is resolved.

Recent repairs on the ISS have led to a new pressure signature, with further details pending as the situation develops.