MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Russia and the United States have jointly devised a plan to deorbit the International Space Station, utilizing two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft alongside the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, according to Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos. This coordinated effort has received approval from all international partners involved in operating the station, establishing the intended flight configuration and reaffirming a multinational approach for its controlled retirement. Responsibility for propulsion and maneuvering during the deorbit process is allocated among vehicles operated by the station’s two primary partners, while the overall partnership maintains oversight for ensuring a safe conclusion to the decades-long program.
Roscosmos indicated that the station’s descent from orbit will commence in 2028, with the entire process expected to span approximately two years. The plan involves a combination of natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude reductions via existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. According to NASA’s publicly available transition framework, the crew will return to Earth before the final burn is executed, ensuring debris falls into an unpopulated ocean area to minimize risk to people and property. This controlled approach aims to prevent 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, which will define the responsibilities of Roscosmos and NASA during the deorbit operation. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a shared duty 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 specifies the vehicle configuration, while the upcoming bilateral document will clarify operational accountability between the Russian and U.S. agencies throughout the multi-stage deorbit process. No crew members are expected to remain onboard for the final re-entry burn, as per NASA’s published decommissioning sequence.
Orbital descent scheduled 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 enough margin for a controlled re-entry. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report published in July 2026 set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion as of February, including the $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce costs to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle’s readiness for delivery is targeted for October 2028, with the launch scheduled for mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle comprises a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft designed for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk containing 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 vehicle will dock approximately 18 months prior to re-entry and stay attached through the final phase. NASA will oversee its operation, and the agency’s Launch Services Program will procure the rocket needed to place the vehicle into orbit and reach the station complex.
Deorbit plan aims for a remote ocean zone
Since its assembly began in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. Weighing roughly 430,000 kilograms and spanning about the size of a football field, the station orbits at around 415 kilometers above Earth. Its systems are interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. These interdependencies form the core of the joint deorbit architecture, requiring close coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current plan prioritizes decommissioning the station and executing re-entry maneuvers in 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that the agency is considering launching the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extending station operations beyond 2028, supported by structural analyses. The approved multinational deorbit program, as disclosed by Roscosmos, will commence in 2028 and continue for about two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup that aims to deposit debris into a remote ocean footprint.