An official multilateral plan has been approved by international space agency partners to deorbit the International Space Station, employing two Russian Progress cargo ships and a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. Roscosmos confirmed that the primary guidance and propulsion duties will be divided between U.S. and Russian spacecraft, guaranteeing a controlled and secure conclusion to the station’s orbital lifespan.
Scheduled to commence in 2028, the station’s descent will span approximately two years, according to Roscosmos. The plan involves a combination of natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reduction via existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition plan indicates that the crew will return to Earth prior to the execution of the final burn, which aims to direct debris into an uninhabited ocean region and minimize risks to individuals and property, instead of allowing an uncontrolled descent at the end of the station’s operational life.
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 emphasizes that safe disposal is a joint 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 specifies the hardware combination, while the upcoming bilateral document will detail operational responsibilities between Russian and U.S. agencies throughout each stage of disposal. No crew members will stay onboard during the final re-entry burn, according to NASA’s decommissioning schedule.
Five agencies collaborate on 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 and Progress spacecraft alone lacked sufficient margin for a controlled re-entry. A report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in July 2026 indicated NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This amount includes the $843 million contract with SpaceX, the procurement of a future launch vehicle, and NASA’s workforce expenses necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The project aims for the vehicle to be ready for delivery by October 2028, with a launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle integrates a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, equipped for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk that carries the necessary propulsion system for descent. According to the GAO, design modifications include upgrades to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and will remain attached through the final phase. NASA will oversee its operation, and the agency’s Launch Services Program will separately handle the procurement of the rocket needed for deployment into orbit and rendezvous with the station.
The final re-entry phase will span approximately two years
Since beginning assembly in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. With a mass of about 430,000 kilograms and covering an area comparable to a football field, it orbits at approximately 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. The station’s systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage regular orientation tasks. These interdependent systems form the basis of the joint deorbit plan, necessitating detailed coordination among all involved agencies.
NASA’s current schedule prioritizes decommissioning the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report stated that NASA is considering whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations into 2028. Structural analyses support the continuation of operations through 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period afterward. Under the multinational plan disclosed by Roscosmos, the station’s orbital descent begins in 2028 and is expected to last around two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean area.