NASA Lifts Evacuation Orders for Astronauts on International Space Station

NASA announced on June 5, 2026, that evacuation orders for astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) were lifted after a brief period of precaution due to an air leak in the Russian segment of the station. The order had instructed two U.S. astronauts, a French astronaut, and a Russian astronaut to shelter in their spacecraft as a precautionary measure. NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens stated that the order was made out of an 'abundance of caution' while the Russian space agency conducted a repair operation on the service module. Less than two hours later, the crew was instructed to return to normal operations. The air leaks on the Russian service module, Zvezda, have increased recently, prompting ongoing discussions between NASA and Roscosmos regarding their causes and solutions. Stevens noted that the agency is committed to working collaboratively with Roscosmos to address the issue.