MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, confirmed that international collaborators have consented to a joint mission plan for the deliberate deorbit of the International Space Station (ISS). This coordinated approach involves using two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle constructed by SpaceX, to guide the station back to Earth safely. The plan establishes a unified propulsion and navigation framework shared between Roscosmos and NASA, ensuring a collaborative effort to execute a precise and secure deorbit of the orbital laboratory.
Roscosmos indicated that the ISS’s descent will commence in 2028, with the entire process anticipated to last around two years. The deorbit sequence will incorporate natural atmospheric drag, altitude reduction through existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s publicly outlined transition plan calls for crew members to return to Earth prior to the execution of the final burn, which will be managed by mission operators. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into an unpopulated ocean region, thereby minimizing risks to people and property, instead of allowing an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the conclusion of station operations.
Additionally, Russia and the United States intend to develop a bilateral agreement to specify responsibilities during the deorbit operation. 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. The program defines the vehicle configuration, while the bilateral document will clarify operational accountability between Roscosmos and NASA during the multi-stage deorbit process. Under NASA’s published sequence, no crew will be aboard during the final re-entry burn.
Russia and US collaborate on station decommissioning plan
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after investigations revealed that existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone did not provide enough margin for a controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office released in July 2026 states NASA set a project cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February, which includes the $843 million contract with SpaceX, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses required for spacecraft certification and station docking operations. The project aims for vehicle delivery readiness by October 2028, with a launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, designed for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk equipped with propulsion systems necessary for descent. According to the GAO, modifications have included upgrades to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration of the trunk. The vehicle 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, with its Launch Services Program procuring the rocket needed to place it into orbit and reach the station.
Operators will leave the station before the final re-entry burn
Since its initial assembly in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000. The station’s mass is roughly 430,000 kilograms, covering an area about the size of a football field, and it orbits at about 415 kilometers above Earth. Its systems are interdependent: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide propulsion for reboosts, debris-avoidance maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation. These relationships underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and require precise coordination among the participating agencies.
NASA’s current plan prioritizes station decommissioning and re-entry maneuvers scheduled for 2030. A GAO report from June 2026 indicates the agency is considering a 2027 assessment to decide whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations. NASA has confirmed that structural analyses support operation through 2028, with additional reviews planned for beyond that date. Under the multinational deorbit program disclosed by Roscosmos, orbital lowering will commence in 2028 and continue for about two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area.