![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stateofthenation2012.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Russian-spacecraft.jpg\")
<\/a>“Drilling” damage caused rapid depressurization, resulting in an emergency evacuation of this wing of the vessel. Image source: NASA<\/p><\/div>\n
The statements, however,\u00a0point to the sabotage likely occurring on the Soyuz MS-09 craft during pre-launch or possibly while in orbit<\/strong>. Russia is in the midst of a full investigation after admitting early Friday that the damage is “more extensive” than what was previously estimated.<\/p>\n Damage to the craft first uncovered in late August while it was anchored to the International Space Station (ISS)\u00a0alarmed\u00a0engineers and raised suspicion of foul play\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/em>a possibility at first thought remote\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/em>but an air leak was initially thought to be the result of a micrometeorite colliding with the vessel. Upon an opening investigation someone described in Russian media as a “reckless assembly worker” was reported to have made a manufacturing error that had a big impact once in space.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are drilling traces not only inside the living module [of the ISS], but also on anti-meteorite plates,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>a Russian space program\u00a0source told\u00a0TASS news agency<\/a>. These plates have been described in breaking media reports as “mounted outside of the station\u2019s hermetic hull”.<\/p>\n \u201cThe one who made the hole in the hull passed straight through it and the drill head hit external non-hermetic protection,\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0the source explained. “The top of the drill came through the pressure hull and hit the non-gas-tight outer shell.”<\/p>\n Currently there are three Americans, two Russians and a German aboard the International Space Station. Image source: NASA<\/p><\/div>\n However, reports suggest the tiny drill hole first discovered in August could have been improperly sealed the first time and through negligence never properly attended to, per state media source\u00a0RT<\/a>, citing officials: “The makeshift sealant held for at least the two months the Soyuz spacecraft spent in orbit, before finally drying up and being pushed out of the hole by air pressure. The ISS crew had noticed the drop of pressure in late August.”<\/p>\n The rapid depressurization reportedly set off an alarm, sending the entire crew to evacuate the Russian wing if the ISS, which involved locking down modules behind them. And further details of the hole’s location,\u00a0per state sources<\/a>:<\/p>\n The hole was located near the toilet and covered by decorative fabric. Using an ordinary toothbrush and an endoscope, they found that only one of the two-millimeter cracks had actually pierced the hull and was leaking air.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Crew members later were able to use an “epoxy-based sealant with metallic additives to plug the hole” while guided by Mission Control.<\/p>\n Dmitry Rogozin, head of Russia’s space agency has reportedly been\u00a0engaging in\u00a0phone talks concerning the\u00a0problem with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Yet Rogozin, considered close to Russian President Vladimir Putin,\u00a0turned heads by saying he still considers the possibility of sabotage a distinct possibility<\/p>\n<\/a>