Astronauts on the International Space Station had a safety scare after an air leak. The ISS is a space station that orbits Earth and is used for science experiments. On Friday, five astronauts were told to shelter in a docked spacecraft.
The crew were asked to prepare for a possible evacuation if the leak became worse. The ISS has never had to be evacuated in its 26-year history. Thankfully, NASA later said the astronauts could return to normal work on the station.
The leak came from cracks in a tunnel in the Russian part of the ISS. The cracks have been known about for about six years. Astronauts noticed more air than usual was escaping after a Russian cargo ship docked.
Two crew members tried to repair the problem, but the repair work was paused. NASA said the station was safe enough for the crew to remain on board while more checks were carried out. The astronauts will continue their planned work as experts look for a longer-term fix.
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