Space agency allies have officially agreed on a collaborative plan to deorbit the International Space Station using two Russian Progress cargo ships and a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. The announcement confirmed that the primary guidance and propulsion duties will be divided between U.S. and Russian spacecraft, guaranteeing a controlled and safe conclusion to the station’s orbital mission.
Roscosmos, the state space agency, stated that the station’s descent will commence in 2028, with the entire process expected to last around two years. This sequence will involve natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions using existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition framework specifies that crew members will return to Earth before operators initiate the final burn. The maneuver aims to direct debris into a remote ocean region, reducing risks to people and property, instead of allowing an uncontrolled descent at the end of the station’s operational life.
A bilateral agreement between Russia and the United States is also in development to clearly define the responsibilities of Roscosmos and NASA during the entire deorbit operation. 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. The program specifies the vehicle configuration, while the upcoming bilateral document will outline operational accountability between the Russian and U.S. agencies throughout the multi-stage deorbit process. Under NASA’s published sequence, no crew will stay onboard during the final re-entry burn.
Responsibility for Safe Deorbit Shared by Five Agencies
SpaceX was selected by NASA in June 2024 to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, after evaluations indicated that existing station propulsion and Progress spacecraft alone did not have enough margin for the planned controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, published in July 2026, stated that NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement costs, and NASA’s workforce expenses necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The delivery readiness date is targeted for October 2028, with a launch planned for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, designed for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk that carries the propulsion system required for descent. Design modifications have included updates to the Dragon power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array configuration, according to the GAO. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and will remain attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, while its Launch Services Program will separately procure the rocket needed to deploy it into orbit and reach the station.
Final re-entry will span approximately two years
The International Space Station has been assembled since 1998 and has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000. It weighs around 430,000 kilograms, covers an area comparable to a football field, and orbits at approximately 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are 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 systems form the basis of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring detailed coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current plan aims for station decommissioning and re-entry maneuvers to be completed by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report indicated that the agency is considering a 2027 assessment to decide whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. The agency’s analyses support operations through 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period beyond that. Under the multinational program revealed by Roscosmos, orbital descent will begin in 2028 and last approximately two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean area.