MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Russia and the United States have jointly developed a coordinated initiative to deorbit the International Space Station using two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. According to Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos, this plan has received approval from all international partners involved in the orbiting laboratory. It sets out the designated flight configuration and emphasizes a multinational approach for its controlled decommissioning. The ISS deorbit plan allocates propulsion and control duties among vehicles operated by the station’s two primary partners, while maintaining overall responsibility within the broader international partnership for the safe conclusion of this decades-long program.
Roscosmos indicated that the station’s planned descent will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process anticipated to last around two years. The approach will blend natural atmospheric drag with deliberate altitude reduction maneuvers utilizing existing propulsion systems, culminating in a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition framework specifies that crew members will return to Earth before the large final burn is initiated by operators. This final maneuver is designed to direct debris into an uninhabited ocean area, minimizing risks to people and property, rather than allowing the station to make an uncontrolled fall from low Earth orbit at the end of its operational life.
Additionally, Russia and the United States plan to formalize a bilateral agreement outlining how Roscosmos and NASA will share responsibilities during the deorbit operation. NASA describes safe disposal as a joint obligation among the five agencies managing the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the program defines the combination of vehicles involved, the upcoming bilateral document will specify operational accountability between the Russian and U.S. agencies during each phase of the multi-step disposal process. No crew will stay onboard during the final re-entry burn, according to NASA’s published decommissioning sequence.
Orbital descent is set to begin in 2028
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after studies revealed that existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone lacked sufficient margin for a controlled re-entry. A U.S. Government Accountability Office assessment published in July 2026 indicated that NASA established the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This total includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce costs necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle’s delivery readiness is targeted for October 2028, with a launch planned for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle integrates a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft designed for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk that carries the necessary propulsion for descent. Design modifications have included updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk, as reported by the GAO. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock securely with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and will stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, while its Launch Services Program will procure the rocket needed to place it in orbit and reach the station complex.
ISS deorbit plan aims for a remote ocean site
Since beginning assembly 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 maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. These interdependent relationships form the basis of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and necessitate meticulous coordination among the participating agencies.
NASA’s current transition plan emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers in 2030. A June 2026 GAO report stated that the agency is considering a 2027 assessment to decide whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations. NASA has indicated that structural analyses support operating the station through 2028, with additional reviews planned for beyond that date. Under the multinational program disclosed by Roscosmos, the orbital descent will commence in 2028 and continue for about two years, culminating in a carefully controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris within a remote ocean footprint.