MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Roscosmos, Russia’s state space agency, confirmed that international partners have given the green light for a joint mission to guide the International Space Station (ISS) through a controlled re-entry. The coordinated deorbit strategy involves two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle developed by SpaceX. This agreement establishes a unified approach to propulsion and navigation between Roscosmos and NASA, ensuring a collaborative effort to safely deorbit the station.
According to Roscosmos, the station’s descent will begin in 2028, with the entire process expected to take approximately two years. The plan combines natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions using existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s official transition plan specifies that crew members will return to Earth prior to the execution of the final burn. This maneuver aims to direct remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean area, minimizing risks to people and property, instead of allowing the station to uncontrolledly descend from low Earth orbit at the end of its operational life.
Furthermore, Russia and the US intend to develop a bilateral agreement that clearly defines responsibility sharing during the deorbit operation. NASA states that the safe disposal of the station is a collective obligation among the five agencies involved: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the program outlines the vehicle configuration, the upcoming bilateral document will detail operational responsibilities between the Russian and American agencies throughout the multi-phase disposal process. Under NASA’s published decommissioning schedule, no crew will remain on board during the final re-entry burn.
Russia and US Collaborate on Station Decommissioning
In June 2024, NASA chose SpaceX to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after studies revealed that existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone lacked sufficient 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, which includes the $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses required to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The project’s readiness date for delivery is October 2028, with a planned launch in mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, designed for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk carrying the necessary propulsion system for descent. The design process has included modifications to the Dragon’s power system, added shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array layout, according to the GAO. The vehicle will dock with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and remain attached until the final phase. NASA will own and operate the spacecraft, while its Launch Services Program will procure the rocket required to place it into orbit and reach the station.
Crew will evacuate prior to the final re-entry burn
Since its launch in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. The station’s mass is about 430,000 kilograms, covering an area roughly the size of a football field, orbiting at approximately 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are highly interdependent: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine orientation. These interconnected systems form the basis of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and require close coordination among participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule emphasizes retiring the station and performing re-entry maneuvers around 2030. A June 2026 GAO report indicated NASA is considering a 2027 evaluation to decide whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. The agency’s analysis supports operating the station through 2028, with additional reviews planned to assess options beyond that date. As disclosed by Roscosmos, the multinational deorbit program will begin orbital lowering in 2028, extending over about two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean area.