Comments on: NASA: The leak in the Zvezda module on ISS has apparently been sealed https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:48:48 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627197 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:48:48 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627197 Lets just agree that a civilian replacement could be made to take its place pretty quick. And it could be improved as a booster point.

]]> By: Blair Ivey https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627182 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:36:00 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627182 Chuck noted: “After all, exactly zero astronauts were ever grateful that their craft was light weight!”

Gus Grissom might have wished for it.

]]> By: Dick Eagleson https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627179 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:20:24 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627179 Richard M,

Zvezda is pretty old, alright, but it’s not yet quite as old as a median Russian citizen even based on official Russian statistics. And, as with the PRC, the “official” Russian stats about population – and pretty much everything else – are largely fiction.

]]> By: Richard M https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627154 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:12:24 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627154 Hello Chuck,

No one talks about it much, but the problem was exacerbated by having to support thruster firing loads for station-raising. In more-recent times, work has been done to use Dragon to perform elevation changes, shifting the loads away from Zvezda.

Yes, there’s something to that. And it’s been doing that for a quarter century now, so….

But the biggest issue of all is that Zvezda is just so freaking *old*. Fabrication of the basic structure commenced in 1985! It’s literally older than the median age of a Russian citizen now! It’s well past its designed lifespan.

But even so, we have, and still can, learn something important from Zvezda about how materials age and deteriorate in space, or at least, in low Earth orbit.

]]> By: Mark Sizer https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627151 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:03:50 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627151 The outgassing may be an improvement. It can’t smell good in there.

]]> By: pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627096 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:03:20 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627096 These spray on or brush on sealers should be common for space use.

The only real problem is the out gassing. This would stress the environmental system.
But they should have been tested long before now. Air cleaning systems should have been tested long before now.

]]> By: Jeff Wright https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627080 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 13:31:10 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627080 The Russians keep talking about taking back modules.
Let the private one take their place and keep the bloody truss.

You have to give Russians this–they were a bit more willing to take chances.

]]> By: Saville https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627078 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 12:30:07 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627078 All good knowledge and experience…fortunately didn’t have to be bought with lives. Hope it stays that way. There are some things you lean by doing.

]]> By: Blair Ivey https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627076 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 08:51:05 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627076 It may be that a number of common DIY fixes will work just fine in space. Duct tape: already proven, as it will be anywhere Humans go. This sounds like something that wouldn’t be that hard to test: buy some sealants from the home improvement store, load them in pressurized cartridges, afix a test sample, load the whole thing on a smallsat, and have at it. I would be slightly amazed if the Russian’s haven’t done something similar.

]]> By: Dick Eagleson https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627066 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 05:09:06 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627066 So now we know that applying a certain amount of Gorilla Snot[pat. pending] will get the upper hand on extant cracks and going easy on the stressed parts might be staving off fresh cracking. Whatever it takes to get this orbital junkpile across the finish line I guess. Meanwhile, yes, Jared should be putting the spurs to the process that will get us one or more actual replacements by 2030 – preferably sooner.

]]> By: Chuck https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627065 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 04:41:35 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627065 No one talks about it much, but the problem was exacerbated by having to support thruster firing loads for station-raising. In more-recent times, work has been done to use Dragon to perform elevation changes, shifting the loads away from Zvezda.

Also didn’t help that the station went through a hairy ride with the Nauka docking back in 2021. Leaks have been reported for almost a decade now, but the loads issue is what’s causing it to be a dynamic situation.

Lots of lessons to be learned here in the long-term life management of an orbital station. One of which is stress loading safety factors. There’s always a tension between safety design (beefy) and aerospace design (lightweight).

Make it light, and hope you do nothing stupid, or . .
Make it stout, trading beef for payload.

Starship might just fix that equation for the better. After all, exactly zero astronauts were ever grateful that their craft was light weight!

]]> By: Gary https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627058 Sat, 03 Jan 2026 23:33:05 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627058 https://media.tenor.com/G6fAWjsIV8UAAAAM/flex-tape.gif

]]> By: pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627057 Sat, 03 Jan 2026 23:25:45 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627057 “Then the Russian cosmonauts would apply a sealant known as Germetall-1 (which has now been patented) to the cracks. ”

They sprayed on Flexx Seal.

]]> By: Richard M https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/nasa-the-leak-in-the-zvezda-module-on-iss-has-apparently-been-sealed/#comment-1627051 Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:25:45 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=120441#comment-1627051 I think it just buys NASA and its ISS partners some breathing space.

But even this reminds us all that ISS has a looming expiration date. It must be one of Jared Isaacman’s top priorities to fast-track NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations awards this year, to get commercial space stations into fabrication.

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