Hatch sealed as foul odor plagues Russian cargo ship at ISS
- The Progress 90 cargo ship docked at the International Space Station carrying three tons of supplies.
- Astronauts initially sealed the hatch due to a foul smell and odd droplets detected in the cabin.
- NASA confirmed the odor dissipated quickly, allowing for safe cargo transfer operations to continue.
On November 25, 2024, the Progress 90 cargo ship successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) carrying three tons of vital supplies, including food and fuel. After its arrival, astronauts were immediately alerted to an unusual and unpleasant smell emanating from the spacecraft, which led to the decision to keep the hatch sealed temporarily. This action was taken as a precautionary measure after noticing the odor in combination with odd floating droplets inside the cabin. The seal remained in place until the odor was confirmed to dissipate. Following this, astronauts Ivan Vagner and Aleksandr Gorbunov commenced the unpacking process of the supplies from Progress 90. NASA later suggested that the smell may have originated from outgassing of materials inside the spacecraft. Despite initial concerns about a possible contamination risk, NASA assured that the air quality within the ISS remained at normal levels during the incident. As a standard operating procedure, flight controllers activated air scrubbing equipment to ensure the environment remained safe for the astronauts onboard. In addition, cosmonaut Vagner undertook cleaning of ventilation systems and performed photography inspections to monitor the situation. The Progress 90 cargo ship is designed to remain docked at the ISS for an extended period, approximately six months. Following this duration, it is scheduled to return to Earth, where it will burn up upon reentry along with waste materials accumulated within the station. Earlier in the month, Progress 89, its predecessor, conducted an orbit-raising maneuver to avoid potential collision with a piece of orbital debris, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding space safety. The incident served not only to underscore the challenges astronauts face when operating in a closed environment in space but also to reaffirm protocols established to ensure the safety and well-being of those aboard the ISS. Despite the initial scare caused by the odor, the crew was able to determine that there was no serious risk to air quality, allowing them to focus on their continued work in space operations.