ISS hits rare full house as all eight docking ports ocupado

"Space agency insiders have confirmed to The Register reports of Russian engineers conducting an urgent audit of resources onboard the ISS. Although any cargo gap could likely be filled by NASA's commercial partners, such as SpaceX, refueling the Russian portion of the complex can only be performed by Progress freighters. Crew transport will also be a challenge if the Soyuz is unavailable."

"NASA confirmed this week that for the first time, all eight of the International Space Station's docking ports are currently occupied - four by Russian vehicles. But while the outpost is unusually busy, Russia faces a different problem. Damage to the launchpad used for sending Soyuz vehicles to the ISS has raised questions about when the next spacecraft will fly. Space agency insiders have confirmed to The Register reports of Russian engineers conducting an urgent audit of resources onboard the ISS."

All eight docking ports on the International Space Station are occupied, including four by Russian vehicles, while Russia's Soyuz launchpad suffered damage raising uncertainty about future launches. Russian engineers are auditing onboard resources because Progress freighters uniquely refuel the Russian segment, and NASA commercial providers could only partially cover potential cargo gaps. Crew rotation could be affected if Soyuz flights pause, though Boeing's Starliner might offer crew access by 2026 if certified. A sudden Russian crew substitution for a 2026 SpaceX mission occurred. Some insiders say a prolonged Soyuz hiatus could bolster arguments for Russia to leave before the station's planned 2030 deorbit, but official commitment remains.

Read at Theregister