NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station were briefly ordered to shelter in a docked SpaceX Dragon capsule as Russian cosmonauts worked to repair air leaks in the Zvezda service module, a precautionary safety measure.

Roscosmos indicated a more extensive repair would follow after new leak indicators, signaling ongoing work to determine the leak’s cause.

Crew-12, comprising Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev, remained on the station as repairs continued.

Officials described the shelter as precautionary rather than an emergency, with ongoing assessment of data and possible decision points for further action.

This is a developing story with updates anticipated as new information becomes available and repairs and assessments continue.

The situation prompted consideration of an emergency evacuation, reflecting concerns despite the leaks being relatively minor in recent months.

Experts noted no imminent danger due to onboard air supplies, but warned the crack could worsen and pose a catastrophic risk if not addressed.

The incident underscores the ISS’s long history of international collaboration, even as geopolitical tensions persist, and that evacuation has never occurred.

The initial shelter order was issued and then reversed a couple of hours later as authorities assessed the leak rate.

The exact cause of the cracks and leaks remains unclear, and it is not yet known how long the crew will remain in shelter or how long repairs will take.

Dragon is capable of serving as a lifeboat and could facilitate a quick return to Earth if needed.

Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers are pushing to extend the ISS’s operational life to 2032 to ensure time for a replacement, with broad bipartisan support.