An official joint agreement has been reached among international space agency partners to execute the controlled deorbit of the International Space Station using two Russian Progress cargo ships alongside a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. Roscosmos, the state space agency, confirmed that the main guidance and propulsion duties will be allocated between U.S. and Russian spacecraft, guaranteeing a managed and secure conclusion to the station’s orbital lifespan.
The process to lower the station’s orbit is scheduled to commence in 2028, with Roscosmos estimating it will take approximately two years to complete. The sequence will involve utilizing natural atmospheric drag, targeted altitude reductions via existing thrusters, and a final precise re-entry maneuver. According to NASA’s published transition plan, the crew will evacuate before the final burn is initiated by operators. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean area, minimizing risks to people and property, rather than risking an uncontrolled descent at the end of the station’s operational life.
Additionally, Russia and the United States are working on drafting a bilateral agreement to specify the division of responsibilities during this operation. NASA describes the safe disposal as a shared task among the five agencies operating the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. The program defines the vehicle combination to be used, while the upcoming bilateral document will clarify operational responsibilities for Roscosmos and NASA throughout the multi-stage deorbit process. No crew members will remain onboard during the final re-entry burn, following NASA’s decommissioning sequence.
Five agencies accountable for secure station disposal
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after assessments revealed that existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone did not provide enough margin for a controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, published in July 2026, indicated NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This amount includes the reported $843 million contract with SpaceX, future launch vehicle acquisitions, 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. vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, fitted for rendezvous and docking, with an expanded trunk that carries the propulsion system necessary for descent. According to the GAO, modifications to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk have been part of the design process. It is scheduled to dock safely with the station about 18 months prior to re-entry and will stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, with its Launch Services Program separately procuring the rocket needed to launch it into orbit and reach the station.
The final re-entry process will span roughly two years
Since beginning assembly in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. The station’s total mass is roughly 430,000 kilograms, covering an area comparable to a football field, and it orbits at an altitude of approximately 415 kilometers. Its systems are highly interconnected: propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude adjustments is provided by the Russian segment and Progress vehicles, while U.S. gyroscopes manage orientation during normal operations. These interdependencies form the foundation of the joint structure outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring close coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A GAO report from June 2026 states the agency is considering a 2027 review to decide whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. Structural analyses support the plan to operate through 2028, with additional evaluations planned to assess options beyond that point. Under the multinational program announced by Roscosmos, orbital lowering will begin in 2028 and continue for about two years, ending in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area.