MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Russia and the United States have coordinated a joint effort to deorbit the International Space Station, utilizing two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft along with the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, according to Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos. All international partners involved in the station have approved the plan, which outlines the specific flight setup and confirms a multinational approach to its controlled retirement. The deorbit plan assigns propulsion and control duties among vehicles operated by the station’s two main partners, while the broader partnership remains responsible for ending the long-running program safely.
Roscosmos announced that the station’s descent from orbit will begin in 2028. The process is expected to take around two years. It will involve natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude adjustments using current propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s transition plan states that crew members will return to Earth before the final burn is executed. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into a remote ocean area to minimize risks to people and property, instead of allowing the station to uncontrollably fall from low Earth orbit at the end of its operational life.
Russia and the United States are also working on a bilateral agreement that will clarify how Roscosmos and NASA share responsibilities during the deorbit operation. NASA describes safe disposal as a joint 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 sets the vehicle configuration, while the bilateral document will specify operational responsibilities for both agencies during the multi-stage deorbit process. Under NASA’s published decommissioning sequence, no crew will be aboard for the final re-entry burn.
Orbital descent planned to start in 2028
In June 2024, NASA chose SpaceX to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. This decision came after studies revealed that the station’s current propulsion and Progress spacecraft alone lacked enough margin for a controlled re-entry. A July 2026 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office noted that NASA set the project’s baseline cost at $1.2 billion in February. This includes the reported $843 million contract with SpaceX, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle is expected to be ready by October 2028, with a launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft designed for rendezvous and docking, along with an enlarged trunk that provides the necessary propulsion for descent. Design modifications include updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar array layout on the trunk, 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 procure the rocket needed to put it into orbit and reach the station.
ISS deorbit plan aims for an oceanic final resting place
The International Space Station began assembly in 1998 and has maintained a human presence since November 2000. It has a mass of approximately 430,000 kilograms and covers an area about the size of a football field. The station orbits at roughly 415 kilometers above Earth. Its systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control. Meanwhile, U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. These relationships form the basis of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring precise coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current plan aims to retire the station and complete re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that NASA is considering whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations beyond 2028. Structural analyses support continuing operations through 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period afterward. The multinational program approved by Roscosmos indicates that orbital lowering will begin in 2028 and last around two years, ending in a controlled breakup that will deposit debris into a remote ocean area, ensuring safety and environmental considerations.