"Literally, a day after [in-flight] systems have exhausted completely, irreparable failures could begin."
Failure Analysis
A prominent Russian official has warned that damage to the Zarya module may get worse after Russian cosmonauts discovered new cracks.
Vladimir Solovyov is the Russian space company Energia's chief engineer. He warned recently of a cascading effect where the cracks are growing. According to the BBC, Solovyov has increased the stakes with his warnings regarding the ageing space station.
According to Solovyov, irreparable failures could begin literally a day after [in-flight] systems have exhausted completely, according the BBC.
Spare Parts
Solovyov said that about 80 percent of the in-flight systems in Russian modules are past their expiration dates. The crewmembers aboard the ISS are not at risk from any cracks or leaks, however, this could change if these problems are not addressed.
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Futurism has previously suggested that Russia may be looking for signs wear and tear to justify leaving the ISS earlier than necessary. Roscosmos has repeatedly threatened to end its partnership with the US, other ISS member countries, and has already created a module for its orbital outpost.
In the next few years, Russia will retire the space station that has been operating for years longer than originally planned. However, worsening damage over several years is not a good sign. It would be sad news if Russia abandoned the project and left the space station in disrepair.
READ MORE: Russia warns that the International Space Station is at risk of irreparable damage [BBC]
More about the International Space Station: Russia claims it has found even more cracks in the Space Station
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