picture released, Reuters
Russia has often been alerted to the progress of the equipment
A Russian official has warned that the International Space Station could suffer “irreparable” failures due to outdated equipment and hardware.
Vladimir Solovyov told state media that at least 80 percent of the flight systems on the Russian part of the International Space Station have expired.
He also said that small cracks had been discovered that could worsen over time.
Russia has often raised concerns about the hardware and warned that it could leave the International Space Station after 2025.
The station was built in 1998 as part of a joint venture between Russia, America, Canada, Japan and several European countries, and was originally designed for a lifespan of up to 15 years.
“After literally one day, the systems were exhausted,” said Solovyov, chief engineer at Space Energy, the leading developer of the Russian section of the International Space Station. [أثناء الرحلة] In full, irreparable failures may begin.
He warned last year that much of the equipment at the plant was becoming obsolete and would soon need to be replaced.
The former cosmonaut also announced that “superficial” cracks had been discovered in the Russian Zarya cargo unit. Launched in 1998, it is one of the oldest modular units of the International Space Station and is now used primarily for storage.
“This is bad and indicates that cracks will begin to spread over time,” Solovyov told RIA Novosti news agency.
Last April, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told state television that the old metal at the station could “lead to irreversible consequences, that is, to catastrophe. We must not let that happen.”
Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said last year that structural stress means the International Space Station will not be able to operate after 2030.
Russia’s space program has been hit by a series of budget cuts and corruption scandals in recent years. Its section of the International Space Station has also faced a series of problems.
And in July, a malfunction caused jet launchers to launch the country’s Noka research model without warning, destabilizing the International Space Station.
The Zvezda service unit, which provides accommodation for the International Space Station’s crew members, has also experienced several air leaks since 2019.
Despite these setbacks, the country’s space agency has promised a series of ambitious projects, including a mission to Venus, a rocket capable of making round-trip flights into space and a mission to the moon’s surface next year.
