As part of ongoing international efforts to responsibly conclude the operational life of the International Space Station, Russia and the United States have agreed on a detailed, two-year plan for its controlled deorbit. The broader context involves a collaborative approach among the station’s five primary operators—NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA—to ensure a safe and coordinated disassembly process.
Roscosmos announced that all space agency partners have formally approved the flight configuration for the station’s decommissioning phase. Under this joint plan, two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and a specialized U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will oversee atmospheric re-entry procedures. This agreement carefully allocates critical propulsion and navigation responsibilities between Russia and the United States, marking the conclusion of decades of joint station operations under a unified safety framework.
The process of lowering the station’s orbit is scheduled to commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit operation expected to span approximately two years, according to Roscosmos. The sequence involves leveraging natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions via existing thrusters, and a final re-entry maneuver targeted precisely. NASA’s published transition plan specifies that the crew will return to Earth before the final burn is executed. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into a remote oceanic area, minimizing risks to people and property, rather than allowing an uncontrolled descent at the end of the station’s operational life.
In addition to these operational plans, Russia and the United States are working on a bilateral agreement to clearly define responsibilities for the deorbit process. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a shared duty among the five station-operating agencies. The upcoming bilateral document will specify operational accountability between Roscosmos and NASA throughout each stage of the controlled deorbit, which will involve a multi-step sequence. Under NASA’s current decommissioning schedule, no crew will remain aboard during the final re-entry burn.
NASA sets $1.2 billion budget for Deorbit Vehicle project
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and supply an uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after assessments revealed that the current station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone did not have enough margin for the planned controlled re-entry. An assessment published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in July 2026 confirmed that NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This sum encompasses the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future procurement of launch vehicles, and NASA workforce expenses for spacecraft certification and docking preparations. The vehicle is scheduled to be ready for delivery by October 2028, with a launch targeted for mid-2029.
The design combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, equipped for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk that provides the necessary propulsion for descent. According to the GAO, modifications include updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and changes to the solar-array configuration on the trunk. The vehicle is expected to dock with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and stay connected until the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, while the agency’s Launch Services Program will procure the rocket needed to place it into orbit and reach the station.
Enhanced propulsion capability integrated into modified Dragon
Since its inception in 1998, the International Space Station has supported a continuous human presence since November 2000. With a mass around 430,000 kilograms and an area comparable to a football field, the station orbits approximately 415 kilometers above Earth. Its systems are highly interdependent: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation. These collaborative functions underpin the joint deorbit plan and require detailed coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule aims to retire the station around 2030, with re-entry maneuvers planned for that timeframe. A June 2026 GAO report notes that NASA is considering a 2027 assessment on whether to proceed with launching the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. Structural analyses currently support operation through 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period beyond. As per the multinational deorbit plan disclosed by Roscosmos, the orbital lowering process will start in 2028 and continue for roughly two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean area.