If the Russian Soyuz capsule isn't repaired soon, NASA may have to operate the ISS without a crew. (Public Domain)

Since the retirement of the U.S. Space Shuttle fleet, the Russian Soyuz capsule is the only spacecraft in operation capable of ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS. But, due to the unmanned freighter crash in August, the Soyuz has been grounded prompting a frantic investigation into the matter. Consequently, if the current crew cannot be replaced as their respective shifts end, the station will have to be abandoned, at least temporarily.

From Google News:

Two Americans aboard the ISS, Ron Garan and Mike Fossum, told reporters in a video press conference from space that they have begun minimal preparations, namely taking video of some tasks in order to quickly train future station staff

However, NASA mission managers in Houston are hard at work on contingency plans after both Russia and the United States admitted that abandoning the research outpost, at least temporarily, is a possibility.

"You have to start working right now to say 'what if?'" said Fossum. "There are a lot of efforts going on to look at all of the different options that could possibly come into play."

Reach writer Sean McGuire here.