International space agency partners have officially approved a joint plan to bring the International Space Station down through a process involving two Russian Progress cargo ships and a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. When announcing this multilateral agreement, Roscosmos, the state space agency, confirmed that the main responsibilities for guidance and propulsion will be divided between U.S. and Russian spacecraft, guaranteeing a controlled and safe conclusion to the station’s orbital operations.
According to Roscosmos, the station’s planned descent will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process estimated to last around two years. The approach will combine natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions using existing propulsion systems, and a final precise re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition plan states that the crew will return to Earth before the final major burn is executed. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean area, minimizing risks to people and property, rather than risking an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of operations.
Russia and the United States are also preparing a bilateral agreement that will clearly define how Roscosmos and NASA will share responsibilities during the deorbit process. NASA describes safe disposal as 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. While the program determines the vehicle combination, the bilateral agreement will specify operational responsibilities between the Russian and U.S. agencies throughout each phase of the deorbit process. Under NASA’s published decommissioning plan, no crew will remain onboard during the final re-entry burn.
Five agencies collaborate on ensuring safe station disposal
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and launch the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after studies revealed that the station’s propulsion and Progress spacecraft alone did not provide enough margin for a controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office published in July 2026 indicated that NASA set the project’s cost at $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes the reported $843 million contract with SpaceX, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The project aims for the vehicle to be ready for launch by October 2028, with a target launch date of mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle integrates a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft designed for rendezvous and docking, along with an enlarged trunk that carries the propulsion system needed for descent. Design modifications have included upgrades to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array configuration, according to the GAO. It is scheduled to dock securely with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate this vehicle, while the agency’s Launch Services Program will separately secure the rocket needed to place it into orbit and connect it to the station.
The final re-entry will span about two years
Since beginning assembly in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. The station has a mass of around 430,000 kilograms, covers an area comparable to a football field, and orbits at roughly 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles supply propulsion for reboosts, debris-avoidance, and attitude adjustments, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. These interdependent systems form the basis of the joint deorbit architecture established in the ISS deorbit plan and require meticulous coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers in 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 extend station operations. The agency’s analyses support operations through 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period beyond that. The multinational program, as disclosed by Roscosmos, involves starting orbital lowering in 2028, lasting around two years, and culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean area.