The international space agency collaborators have officially endorsed a joint strategy to deorbit the International Space Station through the combined use of two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. Confirming the multilateral accord, Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, stated that the main guidance and propulsion duties will be divided between U.S. and Russian spacecraft, guaranteeing a controlled and safe conclusion to the station’s orbital lifespan.
According to Roscosmos, the station’s planned reduction in orbit will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process projected to last roughly two years. The approach will incorporate natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude reductions via existing propulsion, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. The NASA transition plan specifies that crew members will return to Earth prior to the execution of the final burn by mission operators. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into an unpopulated ocean region and minimize risks to people and property, instead of allowing an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of the station’s operational life.
Russia and the U.S. are also working on a bilateral agreement that will outline how Roscosmos and NASA will share responsibilities during the deorbit process. NASA describes the safe disposal as a joint obligation 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 combination of vehicles to be used, the forthcoming bilateral agreement will clarify operational accountability between the Russian and American agencies across the various stages of the disposal process. Under the current decommissioning sequence published by NASA, no crew members will remain onboard during the final re-entry burn.
Responsibility for safe station disposal shared among five agencies
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and supply the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after analyses indicated that the existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone lacked sufficient margin for a controlled re-entry. An assessment from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, published in July 2026, stated that NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This amount encompasses the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce costs necessary for spacecraft certification 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. spacecraft combines a SpaceX Dragon module, equipped for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk that carries the propulsion system necessary for descent. Design modifications include enhancements to the Dragon’s power system, added shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk, according to the GAO. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and will remain attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate this vehicle, while the agency’s Launch Services Program will handle procurement of the rocket needed to place it into orbit and reach the station complex.
Deorbit final phase expected to last around two years
Constructed in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000. Its mass is approximately 430,000 kilograms, it spans an area comparable to a football field, and orbits at roughly 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. The station’s systems are interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide reboost, debris-avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. These interdependent relationships form the foundation of the joint deorbit plan, requiring extensive coordination among the involved agencies.
NASA’s current schedule emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry procedures by 2030. A report from the GAO in June 2026 noted that NASA is considering a 2027 assessment on whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations. The agency’s analyses support continued operation through 2028, with further reviews planned for beyond that date. Under the multinational program disclosed by Roscosmos, orbit lowering will commence in 2028, with the process lasting around two years and culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area.