NASA Almost Evacuated The ISS Because Russia Wanted To Drill The Hull And Use A Saw To Fix A Leak

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) were placed on standby for evacuation after Roscosmos proposed drilling into a cracked hull segment and using a saw to repair a long-standing air leak. NASA rejected the plan, citing safety concerns over potential hull compromise or debris. The incident has reignited tensions between U.S. and Russian space agencies, with coverage framing it as a Cold War-style standoff in orbit.

Media outlets highlight the escalating distrust between NASA and Roscosmos, with *EL PAÍS* and *The Register* framing the dispute as part of broader geopolitical friction. Government Accountability Office (GAO) separately released a report outlining NASA’s plans for ISS replacement, signaling long-term strategic shifts. Safety protocols and evacuation readiness were praised by *Aviation Week*, though questions remain about Roscosmos’ delayed response to the leak’s persistence.

Watch for Roscosmos’ next steps in addressing the leak, potential delays in ISS operations, and whether this incident accelerates NASA’s timeline for retiring the station. Coverage from *Ars Technica* and *Hackaday* suggests the technical and logistical challenges of alternative repair methods could dominate discussions.