Russian scientists have created a new form of protection which can restore pressure after minor accidents caused by space debris. The device will be used onboard future space stations and spacecrafts.

Valery Feldstein, an expert from Central Scientific Institute for Mechanical Engineering in the city of Korolyev, said that “they have managed to develop a self-sealing cover, which will replace safety screens and is aimed at protecting accommodation modules at the International Space Station (ISS) from micrometeorites. The material can cover any minor damage,” Feldstein told news agency Interfax.

He said he couldn’t reveal the secret of the device, saying that the technology is akin to human skin, which repairs itself after a minor cut.

Valery Feldstein said that the scientists have just started work on the self-sealing shell. In the meantime, safety screens help reduce the risk of breakdown of the fuselage protection.