MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Since its launch in 1998, the International Space Station has been a pivotal hub for human spaceflight, maintaining a continuous crewed presence since November 2000. The station, with a mass around 430,000 kilograms and covering roughly the size of a football field, orbits at approximately 415 kilometers above Earth. Its complex systems rely on interdependent components: the Russian segment along with Progress cargo spacecraft provide crucial propulsion for reboosts, debris-avoidance maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine station orientation during operations. These interconnected systems form the backbone of the joint approach outlined in the upcoming ISS deorbit plan, which demands meticulous coordination among participating agencies.
Recently, Russia and the United States have unveiled a synchronized plan to deorbit the station, involving two Russian Progress spacecraft and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, as reported by Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos. This initiative has garnered approval from all international partners involved in the orbiting laboratory, establishing a clear configuration for the mission and confirming a multinational effort to manage its controlled decommissioning. The responsibility for propulsion and control tasks will be allocated among vehicles operated by the station’s two principal partners, while the broader collaboration retains oversight of the safe conclusion of the program.
According to Roscosmos, the process to lower the station’s orbit is scheduled to commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit operation expected to span about two years. The plan combines natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions utilizing existing thrusters, and a final precise re-entry maneuver. NASA’s outlined transition plan specifies that the crew will evacuate the station before the final burn is executed. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean region, thereby minimizing risks to people and property, and avoiding an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of the station’s operational life.
Furthermore, Russia and the United States intend to draft a bilateral agreement clarifying responsibilities during the deorbit process. NASA describes the safe disposal of the station as a shared duty 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 program specifies the combination of vehicles to be used, the bilateral document will delineate operational responsibilities between Roscosmos and NASA throughout the multi-stage deorbit sequence. Under NASA’s published decommissioning plan, no crew will remain onboard during the final re-entry burn.
Deorbit Operations to Commence in 2028
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after analysis revealed that existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone did not provide sufficient margins for a controlled re-entry. An assessment by the U.S. Government Accountability Office released in July 2026 indicated NASA established a cost baseline of $1.2 billion for the project in February. This figure includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future costs for launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle’s readiness for delivery is targeted for October 2028, with a launch planned for mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which is equipped for rendezvous and docking with the station, and an enlarged trunk that carries the necessary propulsion system for descent. Design modifications have included updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk, according to the GAO. The plan is for the vehicle to dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and remain attached during the final phase. NASA will own and operate the spacecraft, while its Launch Services Program will separately handle the procurement of the launch vehicle required to place it into orbit and reach the station.
Targeting a Remote Ocean Area for Final Disposal
The deorbit plan aims to direct debris into a remote ocean zone, minimizing risk to populated areas. Since beginning assembly in 1998, the ISS has served as a critical platform for scientific research and international collaboration. Its systems are highly interdependent: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles contribute to propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine orientation. These interactions are fundamental to the joint architecture laid out in the deorbit strategy, requiring extensive coordination among the involved agencies.
NASA’s current schedule emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A GAO report from June 2026 indicates the agency is considering whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations into the future. Structural assessments support continued operation until 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period afterward. The multinational deorbit plan approved by Roscosmos projects an orbital lowering starting in 2028, lasting approximately two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean footprint.