A private astronaut mission, Axiom Space Mission 4 (Ax-4), launched despite a concerning air leak on the International Space Station (ISS). The leak, originating from a Russian module, had seemingly stopped, raising fears of a new, internal leak drawing air from the rest of the station. NASA and Roscosmos investigated, lowering pressure in the affected tunnel. The Ax-4 mission, carrying four astronauts including a former NASA astronaut and three spaceflight novices, will conduct experiments for about two weeks. The cause and extent of the leak remain unclear, impacting future mission planning.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.