Since its inception in 1998, the International Space Station has served as a symbol of international cooperation in space exploration. With a mass of approximately 430,000 kilograms and spanning an area comparable to a football field, the station remains in low Earth orbit at roughly 415 kilometers altitude. It has continuously hosted crew members since November 2000, relying on interdependent systems involving multiple agencies. The Russian segment and Progress cargo spacecraft handle propulsion tasks such as reboosts and debris-avoidance maneuvers, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine orientation controls. These interconnected systems underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and necessitate meticulous coordination among participating entities.
Now, international space agency partners have formally agreed on a comprehensive plan to deorbit the station, utilizing two Russian Progress cargo ships alongside a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. Confirmed by the state space agency Roscosmos, the plan assigns primary guidance and propulsion duties between U.S. and Russian spacecraft, guaranteeing a controlled and secure conclusion to the station’s orbital lifespan.
The deorbit process is set to commence in 2028, with an estimated duration of around two years, Roscosmos announced. This sequence will involve leveraging natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions via existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. According to NASA’s published transition framework, the crew will return to Earth before mission operators execute the final large burn. The aim of this maneuver is to direct any remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean region, minimizing risks to people and property, rather than allowing an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of operations.
Additionally, Russia and the United States intend to develop a bilateral agreement outlining how Roscosmos and NASA will share responsibility during the deorbit process. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a collective obligation among the five agencies managing the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the current program specifies the vehicle combination, the upcoming bilateral document will delineate operational accountability between the Russian and U.S. agencies throughout the various stages of deorbiting. Notably, no crew members will remain aboard during the final re-entry burn, as per NASA’s decommissioning plan.
Five agencies to share responsibility for the safe end-of-life procedure
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. This decision followed studies indicating that the station’s existing propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft lacked sufficient margin for a controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, released in July 2026, stated that NASA set 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 needed to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The plan 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 capsule equipped for rendezvous and docking, along with an enlarged trunk containing the propulsion system required for descent. Design modifications have included adjustments to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and revisions to the trunk’s solar-array configuration, according to the GAO. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and will stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, with the agency’s Launch Services Program procuring the rocket needed to deploy it into orbit and reach the station.
The re-entry process is projected to span approximately two years
The International Space Station’s assembly began in 1998 and has maintained human presence continuously since November 2000. The complex’s mass, about 430,000 kilograms, covers an area similar to a football field, orbiting at approximately 415 kilometers altitude. Its systems are deeply interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide reboost, debris-avoidance maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine orientation tasks. These relationships form the foundation of the joint architecture detailed in the ISS deorbit plan and require precise coordination among all involved agencies.
NASA’s current schedule emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A GAO report from June 2026 indicated that the agency is considering whether to proceed with the launch of the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. Structural analyses support operation through 2028, with further reviews planned for the period beyond that. Under the multinational program disclosed by Roscosmos, the orbital lowering will begin in 2028, lasting about two years, and will culminate in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area, ensuring safe disposal.