install, so if more further issues arose, it would have to rely on reinstalling previously used valves which they retained as "contingency" backups, which are in a degraded state. 2018 – Leak in Soyuz Orbital Module On 29 August 2018, at 7:00 p.m. EDT, a small pressure leak was observed in the Russian segment of the ISS. The crew were allowed to sleep as mission controllers determined there was no danger to them, and investigation the following day revealed a 2mm hole near the hatch of the Soyuz spacecraft. The hole was temporarily covered with Kapton tape, and then with an on-board patch kit. Neither was sufficient to completely plug the leak. Sealant was later applied, which finally stabilised the station's pressure. The hole was identified as a drill hole made by an "unsteady hand", potentially during manufacturing or when already in orbit, according to Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin. 2019–2020 – Pressure leak In September 2019, a higher-than-normal air leak was detected on the station. In August 2020, after the leak had slightly increased, ISS crew started investigating the issue. On 29 September 2020 the leak was isolated in the Zvezda Service Module. The leak was tracked down on 15 October and an attempt was made to patch it. Another leak in the same section has led to consideration of sealing off the affected section and using oxygen reserves, but this would impact the overall operation of the ISS. References International Space Station W