{"id":18380,"date":"2018-09-04T23:11:01","date_gmt":"2018-09-04T15:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/russian-space-chief-blames-space-station-leak-on-drill-hole-doesnt-rule-out-sabotage\/"},"modified":"2018-09-04T23:11:01","modified_gmt":"2018-09-04T15:11:01","slug":"russian-space-chief-blames-space-station-leak-on-drill-hole-doesnt-rule-out-sabotage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/russian-space-chief-blames-space-station-leak-on-drill-hole-doesnt-rule-out-sabotage\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian space chief blames space station leak on drill hole, doesn\u2019t rule out sabotage"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hole
This picture of a tiny hole implicated in a Soyuz air leak was included in an initial version of a NASA video but later removed. The larger hole in the picture is part of the Soyuz spacecraft\u2019s structure and did not play a role in the leak. (Roscosmos \/ NASA via NASASpaceFlight \/ Twitter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The International Space Station\u2019s crew has successfully stopped up last week\u2019s tiny air leak in a Russian Soyuz capsule docked to the station, but worrisome reports are leaking out of Moscow.<\/p>\n

Dmitry Rogozin, the head of the Russian Space Agency, told reporters today that the leak was traced to what appears to be a drill hole piercing the Soyuz\u2019 hull, and that in-space sabotage couldn\u2019t be ruled out.<\/p>\n

Here are the quotes from Russia\u2019s Tass news agency:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe are considering all the theories. The one about a meteorite impact has been rejected because the spaceship\u2019s hull was evidently impacted from inside. However, it is too early to say definitely what happened. But, it seems to be done by a faltering hand \u2026 it is a technological error by a specialist. It was done by a human hand \u2014 there are traces of a drill sliding along the surface. We don\u2019t reject any theories.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a matter of honor for Energia Rocket and Space Corporation to find the one responsible for that, to find out whether it was an accidental defect or a deliberate spoilage and where it was done \u2014 either on Earth or in space. Now it is essential to see the reason, to learn the name of the one responsible for that. And we will find out, without fail.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Energia is the supplier for the Soyuz craft that Russia uses to transport spacefliers to and from the space station. The Soyuz in question arrived at the space station in June with U.S., German and Russian crew members on board, and that same trio is due to ride the craft back down to Earth in a few months.<\/p>\n

The hole, which NASA described as being a tenth of an inch (2 millimeters) in diameter, is located in a segment of the Soyuz that\u2019s jettisoned during the craft\u2019s return to Earth.<\/p>\n

The crew is in no danger. After a debate that drew in NASA and Russian mission planners, Russian cosmonauts used epoxy and a sealant-soaked gauze wipe to plug the hole on Thursday. Additional layers of sealant were laid on, and the plug now appears to be holding.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s space agency, Roscosmos, convened a commission to investigate the leak, and today\u2019s report from Rogozin passed along preliminary findings from the investigation. NASA hasn\u2019t made any comment on Rogozin\u2019s claims.<\/p>\n

The next Soyuz is due to launch next month with U.S. and Russian crew members, and the questions about potential sabotage or covered-up defects will almost certainly need to be cleared up by then.<\/p>\n