CNN reported that key operators the U.S. and Russia are at odds over the seriousness of the problem, with air leaking from inside the ISS.
Air spills, first discovered in the Russian side of the country in 2019, have accelerated this year.
The U.S. space agency, NASA, fears serious damage could be caused by the spill, but Russia's Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, dismisses it as no big deal.
Russian astronauts are trying to locate and block the spill, but space expert Miles O'Brien said it is harder to find holes through twisted wiring over several kilometers than to find needles in the sand.
If the space station fails to remain closed, the air will leak out, endangering the lives of the crew.
The International Space Station, which has been orbiting for more than 25 years, plans to end its operation in 2030 due to aging equipment, and a private commercial space station will take over.
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