MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – According to Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos, the International Space Station (ISS) will undergo a controlled deorbit using a joint effort by Russia and the United States. This process involves two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft along with the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. All international partners involved in the orbiting laboratory have approved the plan, which outlines the flight configuration and confirms a multinational approach for its safe decommissioning. Responsibilities for propulsion and control are distributed among the vehicles operated by the station’s two primary partners, while the broader partnership retains oversight of the entire process to ensure a secure end to the station’s operational history.
Roscosmos stated that the station’s descent will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit operation anticipated to span roughly two years. The process will integrate natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions using existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition plan indicates that the crew will return to Earth prior to the final large burn commanded by operators. This maneuver aims to direct debris into an uninhabited ocean region, minimizing risks to people and property, instead of allowing the station to make an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the conclusion of its operational life.
Furthermore, Russia and the United States intend to develop a bilateral agreement defining how Roscosmos and NASA will allocate responsibilities during the deorbit process. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a shared obligation among the five agencies operating the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the program establishes the vehicle configuration, the upcoming bilateral document will clarify operational responsibilities between Russian and U.S. agencies throughout the multi-stage deorbit. No crew will remain onboard during the final re-entry burn, as per NASA’s published decommissioning sequence.
Deorbit Operations Scheduled to Start in 2028
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and supply the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, as existing station propulsion and Progress spacecraft were deemed insufficient for the planned controlled re-entry. An assessment by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, released in July 2026, noted that NASA established the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This budget includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA’s costs to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle’s readiness date is targeted for October 2028, with launch scheduled for mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will incorporate a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft designed for rendezvous and docking with an expanded trunk that provides the necessary propulsion for descent. Design modifications have included enhancements to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk, according to the GAO. The vehicle is expected to dock securely with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and remain attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the spacecraft, while its Launch Services Program will separately procure the launch vehicle needed to orbit and reach the station.
Targeting a Distant Ocean Site for ISS Deorbit
Since its assembly began in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. The station has a mass of about 430,000 kilograms, spans roughly the size of a football field, and orbits at approximately 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. This interdependence forms the basis of the joint architecture detailed in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring meticulous coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current timeline prioritizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that the agency is considering whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations into the future. Structural analyses support operations through 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period thereafter. Under the multinational program outlined by Roscosmos, the orbital lowering process will begin in 2028 and last for about two years, culminating in a controlled breakup in the atmosphere that aims to deposit debris within a remote ocean area.