MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – A joint effort by Russia and the United States has been formulated to decommission the International Space Station through a coordinated plan involving two Russian Progress cargo ships and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, according to Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos. This plan has received approval from all international partners involved with the station, establishing the intended flight setup and affirming a multinational approach for its controlled deorbiting. Responsibility for propulsion and control has been distributed among vehicles operated by the station’s two main partners, while the broader alliance retains oversight for the safe conclusion of this decades-long program.
Roscosmos indicated that the orbital descent will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process anticipated to span roughly two years. The procedure will incorporate natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude reductions utilizing existing thrusters, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s transition framework specifies that the crew will return to Earth prior to the execution of the final large burn. This maneuver aims to direct remaining debris into an unpopulated ocean area to mitigate risks to people and property, avoiding an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of the station’s operational life.
A bilateral agreement is also being drafted by Russia and the United States to clarify how Roscosmos and NASA will share responsibilities during the deorbit operation. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a collective obligation among the five agencies operating the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. The program’s vehicle combination has been established, while the upcoming bilateral document will detail operational accountability between the Russian and U.S. agencies throughout the multi-phase disposal process. No crew members are planned to remain onboard during the final re-entry burn, as per NASA’s published decommissioning plan.
Orbital descent scheduled to begin in 2028
In June 2024, NASA chose SpaceX to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after assessments revealed that the station’s existing propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone did not provide enough margin for a controlled re-entry. A July 2026 assessment by the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that NASA set a project cost baseline of $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle’s readiness for delivery is targeted for October 2028, with launch planned for mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will combine a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, equipped for docking and rendezvous, with an enlarged trunk housing the propulsion system needed for descent. According to the GAO, design modifications have included adjustments to the Dragon’s power system, added shielding, and updates to the solar-array configuration on the trunk. The vehicle is scheduled to dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and will stay attached through the final phase. NASA will oversee its ownership and operation, while the agency’s Launch Services Program will separately handle the procurement of the rocket needed to place it in orbit and reach the station.
Targeting a remote ocean site for ISS deorbit
Since its assembly began in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. With a mass of about 430,000 kilograms, it extends roughly the size of a football field and orbits at an altitude of about 415 kilometers. Its systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles manage propulsion, debris avoidance maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. These interdependent systems underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and require meticulous coordination among participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule for transition emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that NASA is considering a 2027 assessment to decide whether to proceed with launching the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations. The agency’s analyses support operation through 2028, with further reviews addressing the period beyond that date. According to Roscosmos’s disclosed multinational plan, orbital lowering will commence in 2028 and last approximately two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric disintegration that aims to deposit debris within a remote ocean region.