MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Russia and the United States have devised a joint plan to deorbit the International Space Station using two Russian Progress cargo ships and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, according to Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos. This plan has received approval from all international partners involved in the station, establishing the intended flight setup and confirming a collaborative approach for its controlled decommissioning. Responsibility for propulsion and maneuvering tasks will be shared among vehicles operated by the station’s two main partners, while the broader international partnership retains the duty of ending the program safely after decades of operation.
Roscosmos has indicated that the station’s descent from orbit will commence in 2028, with the entire process expected to take around two years. The deorbit sequence will combine natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions using existing thrusters, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s transition framework states that the crew will return to Earth prior to the final burn being executed by mission operators. This maneuver aims to direct any debris into an unpopulated ocean area to minimize risks to people and property, instead of allowing an uncontrolled fall from low Earth orbit at the end of the station’s operational life.
Furthermore, Russia and the United States plan to draft a bilateral agreement outlining the responsibilities of Roscosmos and NASA during the deorbit process. NASA describes safe disposal as a shared responsibility among the five agencies operating the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the program specifies the vehicle combination, the bilateral document will clarify operational responsibilities between Russian and U.S. agencies throughout the multi-stage deorbit operation. No crew will remain aboard during the final re-entry burn, as outlined in NASA’s published decommissioning plan.
Deorbiting scheduled to start 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 would lack sufficient margin for a controlled re-entry. A July 2026 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office indicated NASA set the project’s budget baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement costs, and NASA workforce expenses necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle’s readiness for delivery is planned for October 2028, with a launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle features a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft equipped for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk carrying the propulsion system needed for descent. Design modifications have included updates 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 with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and will stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, while its Launch Services Program will procure the rocket to place it in orbit and reach the station.
ISS deorbit aims for remote ocean impact
Since its assembly began in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000. Weighing about 430,000 kilograms, occupying roughly the size of a football field, and orbiting at approximately 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit, the station’s systems are highly interdependent: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide reboost, debris-avoidance maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation. These interrelated functions form the basis of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring meticulous coordination among the participating agencies.
NASA’s current plan prioritizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers in 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states 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 operating the station through 2028, with additional evaluations planned for the subsequent period. Under the internationally agreed program disclosed by Roscosmos, the orbital lowering process will commence in 2028 and span approximately two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean area.