International Space Station air leak prompts Russia 'sabotage' allegations

  • 06/09/2018
A hole was detected on a docked Russian spacecraft.
A hole was detected on a docked Russian spacecraft. Photo credit: AAP

Russia says one of its spacecraft could have been sabotaged after a hole was discovered. 

The hole was detected last Thursday while it was docked at the International Space Station orbiting Earth. 

Russian space agency chief Dmitry Rogozin said he suspects foul play, and was quoted by French news agency AFP as saying the hole could have been drilled either back at Earth or in space. 

While the spacecraft suffered a slight loss of pressure, it wasn't life-threatening, reports say. Tape was used to seal the leak after the hole was discovered.

"There were several attempts at drilling," Mr Rogozin said on Monday in televised comments. He said a "wavering hand" must have been used, alluding to its inaccuracy. 

Russia launched checks on Tuesday to determine if the spacecraft was tampered with either on Earth or in space. 

"We are checking the Earth version. But there is another version that we do not rule out: deliberate interference in space," Mr Rogozin said, adding that it's a "matter of honour". 

Russia has ruled out the hole in the Soyuz ship could have been caused by a small meteorite, which Mr Rogozin had previously suggested. 

"We have already ruled out the meteorite version."

It comes at a time when tensions between Russia and the United States are high, with the US having imposed sanctions on Moscow. 

The US Treasury Department most recently targeted Russia on August 27, in response to its alleged role in the Salisbury nerve-agent attack in the UK.  

The International Space Station is one the few areas of Russia-US cooperation that remains unaffected so far by the dampened relationship. 

There are currently two Russian cosmonauts on the station, alongside three NASA astronauts and a German astronaut from the European Space Agency, AFP reports. 

RBC magazine says Russia's Security Council is preparing for additional tougher US sanctions. 

Newshub.