Russia’s space agency Roscosmos has revealed that all international space station partners have officially approved a plan for its controlled deorbiting. The joint approach involves two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and a dedicated U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to oversee atmospheric re-entry procedures. This agreement ensures a balanced allocation of propulsion and guidance responsibilities between Russia and the United States, concluding decades of cooperative station operations under a unified safety framework.
Roscosmos stated that the station’s descent from orbit will commence in 2028, with the entire re-entry process expected to span approximately two years. The plan combines natural atmospheric drag with intentional altitude reductions via existing propulsion systems and a final precise re-entry maneuver. According to NASA’s published transition framework, crew members are scheduled to return to Earth prior to the initiation of the final burn. This maneuver aims to direct remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean area, reducing risks to people and property, rather than allowing an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of its operational life.
Additionally, Russia and the United States intend to craft a bilateral agreement that clearly delineates the responsibilities of Roscosmos and NASA during this operation. NASA describes the safe disposal of the station as a collaborative effort involving five agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the vehicle configuration has been established, this bilateral document will specify operational roles and accountability for each agency throughout the multi-stage re-entry process. No crew members will remain onboard during the final re-entry burn, as outlined in NASA’s decommissioning plan.
NASA Allocates $1.2 Billion for U.S. Deorbit Vehicle Development
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, following studies that indicated existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft lacked sufficient margin for the planned controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office published in July 2026 indicated that NASA established the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses necessary for spacecraft certification to dock with the station and support operations. The project aims for delivery readiness by October 2028, with launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, outfitted for rendezvous and docking, with a larger trunk housing the propulsion system essential for descent. Design modifications have included updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array layout, according to the GAO. The vehicle is scheduled to dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and will remain attached throughout the final phase. NASA will own and operate the spacecraft, while its Launch Services Program will separately manage procurement of the rocket needed for orbit insertion and station approach.
Enhanced Propulsion via Modified Dragon Platform
Since its launch in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. The station’s mass is approximately 430,000 kilograms, with an area comparable to a football field, orbiting at about 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress spacecraft provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle regular orientation adjustments. These interdependencies form the core of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and necessitate meticulous coordination among the participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A GAO report from June 2026 indicated the agency plans to evaluate whether to proceed with launching the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations into 2028. Structural analyses support operational continuation through 2028, with further reviews planned for the subsequent period. As part of the multinational program disclosed by Roscosmos, orbital lowering will begin in 2028 and proceed over approximately two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean region.
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