International space agency partners have officially approved a collaborative plan to deorbit the International Space Station utilizing two Russian Progress cargo vehicles and a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. Roscosmos, the state space agency, confirmed that the primary guidance and propulsion roles will be divided between U.S. and Russian spacecraft, guaranteeing a controlled and secure conclusion to the station’s orbital activities.
The scheduled orbital descent will commence in 2028, with Roscosmos estimating the entire deorbit process will span approximately two years. The approach involves a combination of natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude reduction through existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. According to NASA’s published transition plan, crew members will return to Earth prior to the final burn being initiated by operators. This maneuver aims to steer remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean area, minimizing risks to both people and property, rather than allowing the station to make an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the conclusion of its mission.
Russia and the United States also intend to draft a bilateral agreement outlining how Roscosmos and NASA will allocate their responsibilities during the deorbit operation. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a shared obligation among the five agencies managing the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. The program defines the combination of vehicles involved, while the bilateral document will specify operational accountability for both Russian and U.S. agencies throughout the multi-stage deorbit process. Under NASA’s published sequence, no crew will remain onboard during the final re-entry burn.
Five agencies to oversee safe deorbit process
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after studies revealed that the existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone lacked sufficient margin for a controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office released in July 2026 indicated NASA had set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This total encompasses the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The delivery readiness is planned for October 2028, with a launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle will be a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, equipped for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk that carries the propulsion system needed for descent. Design modifications include updates to the Dragon’s power system, added shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk, as per the GAO. It is scheduled to dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and will stay attached during the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, while the agency’s Launch Services Program will separately secure the rocket to launch it into orbit and reach the station.
Deorbit process will span about two years from start to finish
Since its inception in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000. The station weighs approximately 430,000 kilograms, covers an area roughly equivalent to a football field, and orbits at around 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are interconnected: propulsion for reboosts, debris-avoidance maneuvers, and attitude adjustments are handled by the Russian segment and Progress vehicles, whereas U.S. gyroscopes manage routine orientation during normal operations. These relationships underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, demanding close coordination among the participating agencies.
NASA’s current transition plan emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that NASA 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 station operation through 2028, with further evaluations to determine the future beyond that. Under the multinational program disclosed by Roscosmos, orbital lowering will begin in 2028 and last about two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area.
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