ISS SPRINGS ANOTHER LEAK AS 2030 RETIREMENT LOOMS

The latest leak adds to a series of pressurization problems that have plagued the ISS in recent years. Station crews have managed previous incidents through isolation procedures and repairs, but the recurring nature underscores the challenges of maintaining a 20+ year-old facility in orbit. Space agency officials say the current retirement timeline remains on track. As the ISS approaches the end of its operational life, agencies are already debating what should be preserved. Not all equipment can feasibly be returned to Earth for museum display due to payload constraints and cost considerations. The station continues to serve as a critical research platform for microgravity experiments. Its eventual deorbiting will mark a significant shift in human spaceflight, as commercial space stations are expected to fill the research gap. The ISS has hosted continuous human presence since 1998.