MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – According to Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos, a joint plan has been devised by Russia and the United States to deorbit the International Space Station using two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft alongside the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. This coordinated effort has received approval from all international partners involved in the orbiting lab, establishing a clear flight configuration and demonstrating a multinational approach for its controlled decommissioning. Responsibilities for propulsion and maneuvering are distributed among vehicles operated by the station’s two primary partners, while the broader international partnership remains accountable for ensuring a safe end to the station’s multi-decade operation.
Roscosmos announced that the process to lower the station’s orbit will commence in 2028, with an expected duration of approximately two years. The deorbit sequence will involve utilizing natural atmospheric drag, executing intentional altitude reductions via existing propulsion systems, and completing a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition plan specifies that crew members will return to Earth before the final burn is initiated. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into an unpopulated ocean region, thereby reducing risks to people and property, instead of allowing an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of operations.
A bilateral agreement is also being drafted by Russia and the United States to clarify responsibilities during the deorbit process. NASA describes safe disposal as a shared duty 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 defines the vehicle setup, the upcoming bilateral document will specify operational responsibilities between Roscosmos and NASA during each phase of the deorbit procedure. Under NASA’s published sequence, no crew will stay on board during the final re-entry burn.
Deorbit operations are scheduled to begin in 2028
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, after evaluations showed that existing station propulsion and Progress spacecraft alone lacked the margin needed for a controlled re-entry. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report released in July 2026 indicated that NASA had established a project cost baseline of $1.2 billion in February. This total includes an $843 million contract with SpaceX, future launch vehicle purchases, and NASA workforce costs required to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle is targeted for readiness by October 2028, with a launch scheduled for mid-2029.
The U.S. deorbit craft will incorporate a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft designed for rendezvous and docking, featuring an enlarged trunk that provides the necessary propulsion system for descent. Design modifications have included updates to the Dragon’s power system, added shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar array layout, according to the GAO. The plan is for the spacecraft to dock with the station roughly 18 months prior to re-entry and stay attached through the final phase. NASA will be responsible for ownership and operation, while the Launch Services Program will separately acquire the rocket needed for launching it into orbit and reaching the station complex.
Planned deorbit will target a remote ocean site
Since its assembly began in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000. Its total mass is approximately 430,000 kilograms, covering an area comparable to a football field, and it orbits at an altitude of about 415 kilometers. The station’s systems are highly interdependent: propulsion and debris-avoidance maneuvers are handled by the Russian segment and Progress vehicles, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine orientation during normal operations. These interrelationships form the foundation of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring detailed coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current plan emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report indicated that the agency is considering whether to proceed with launching the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations beyond 2028. Structural analyses currently support operating the station through 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period afterward. The approved multinational deorbit effort, as disclosed by Roscosmos, begins in 2028 and spans about two years, concluding with a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote oceanic region.