MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – According to Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos, a coordinated plan between Russia and the United States has been established to deorbit the International Space Station using two Russian Progress cargo ships alongside the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. This program has received approval from all the international partners involved with the station, confirming the flight plan and endorsing a multinational approach for its controlled decommissioning. The ISS deorbit strategy allocates propulsion and control responsibilities to vehicles operated by the two main partners, while the broader international partnership maintains oversight for safely concluding the decades-long mission.
Roscosmos stated that the station’s descent will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process expected to last around two years. The procedure will involve a combination of natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude decreases using existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition framework outlines that crew members will return to Earth before the final burn is executed. This maneuver aims to direct debris into an uninhabited ocean area, minimizing risks to people and property, rather than allowing the station to make an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the conclusion of its operational life.
In addition, Russia and the United States are working on drafting a bilateral agreement that will define how responsibility is divided between Roscosmos and NASA during the deorbit process. NASA emphasizes that the safe disposal of the station is a shared responsibility among the five agencies operating it: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. The current program sets out the vehicle configuration, while the future bilateral document will clarify operational accountability for both agencies throughout each stage of the deorbit operation. Under NASA’s established decommissioning sequence, no crew will remain onboard during the final re-entry burn.
Deorbiting will begin in 2028, targeting a remote ocean site
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after studies indicated that the station’s existing propulsion system and Progress spacecraft alone did not have enough margin for a controlled re-entry. A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued in July 2026 noted that NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February, including the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses needed to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The delivery readiness date is scheduled for October 2028, with launch planned for mid-2029.
The vehicle designated for this mission combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, equipped for rendezvous and docking with an enlarged trunk that supplies the descent propulsion system. Modifications to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and alterations to the trunk’s solar-array layout have been part of the design process, as reported by the GAO. The spacecraft is expected to dock with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and will stay attached until the final descent phase. NASA will retain ownership and operational control, while its Launch Services Program will separately manage the procurement of the rocket to place the vehicle into orbit and reach the station.
Planned re-entry will target a remote oceanic zone
Since its inception in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. The station, which weighs roughly 430,000 kilograms and spans about the size of a football field, operates in low Earth orbit at approximately 415 kilometers altitude. Its systems are interconnected: propulsion for reboosts, debris-avoidance, and attitude adjustments is provided by the Russian segment and Progress vehicles, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. These interdependent systems form the basis of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring precise coordination among the participating agencies.
NASA’s current plan aims for the station’s retirement and re-entry maneuvers in 2030. A June 2026 GAO report indicated that NASA is considering whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations, with an assessment planned for 2027. Structural analyses support operational continuity through 2028, with further evaluations needed for beyond that period. As disclosed in the multinational deorbit plan approved by Roscosmos, the process will begin in 2028 and last about two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote oceanic location.