Space agency partners from around the world have formally approved a collaborative plan to deorbit the International Space Station utilizing two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft along with a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. Confirming this multilateral accord, Roscosmos, the state space agency, stated that the main guidance and propulsion duties will be divided between U.S. and Russian spacecraft, ensuring a controlled and secure conclusion to the station’s orbital activities.
According to Roscosmos, the station’s descent from orbit will commence in 2028, with the entire re-entry process anticipated to span roughly two years. The approach will combine natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude adjustments using existing thrusters, and a final precise re-entry maneuver. NASA’s publicly available transition plan indicates that the crew will return to Earth prior to the final burn being executed by mission operators. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris toward an uninhabited ocean region, reducing the risk to humans and property, rather than permitting an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the conclusion of the station’s operational life.
Furthermore, Russia and the United States are planning to create a bilateral agreement that clarifies the division of responsibilities between 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. This program defines the vehicle combination, while the bilateral document will specify operational accountability between the Russian and U.S. agencies during the multi-stage deorbit process. Under NASA’s published decommissioning sequence, no crew will stay aboard during the final re-entry burn.
Five agencies collaborate to ensure secure station disposal
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after analyses revealed that existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone did not provide enough margin for a controlled re-entry. An assessment by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, released in July 2026, indicated that NASA set a cost baseline of $1.2 billion for the project in February. This includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA’s workforce expenses to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The planned delivery date for readiness is October 2028, with a launch target set for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft designed for rendezvous and docking, paired with an enlarged trunk that carries the descent propulsion system. Modifications to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and updates to the trunk’s solar-array configuration are part of the design work, according to the GAO. The vehicle will dock approximately 18 months before re-entry and will stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the spacecraft, while its Launch Services Program will separately handle procurement of the rocket needed for launch and orbital insertion.
Estimated two-year timeline for final re-entry phase
Since its launch in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. The station’s mass is about 430,000 kilograms, spanning an area roughly the size of a football field, orbiting at approximately 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 manage routine orientation. These operational relationships form the foundation of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and require extensive coordination among all involved agencies.
NASA’s current schedule for transitioning the station prioritizes decommissioning and re-entry maneuvers in 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that NASA is considering a 2027 assessment on whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. Structural analyses currently support operation through 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period afterward. The multinational deorbit plan disclosed by Roscosmos indicates that orbital lowering will begin in 2028, lasting about two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area.