International Space Station astronauts stood ready to evacuate during air leak repairs

Fractures in the Zvezda service module had been an ongoing concern, said Nasa

The International Space Station is currently home to seven astronauts (Nasa/PA)

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station were ordered to prepare for a possible evacuation during attempts to fix a worsening air leak.

Five members were directed by Nasa’s mission control to take refuge in their docked spacecraft in case they need to escape quickly as repairs were carried out by a Russian crew on a transfer tunnel, which has suffered from cracking.