Roscosmos has declared that all international space agency collaborators have officially approved the configuration for the controlled decommissioning of the International Space Station. According to the shared plan, two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and a specialized U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will oversee the atmospheric re-entry process. The agreement ensures that essential propulsion and guidance functions are divided between Russia and the United States, ending decades of joint station operations under a unified safety framework.
The planned descent of the station will begin in 2028, with Roscosmos indicating the entire process should take approximately two years. This will involve a combination of natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude decreases via existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published plan for the transition states that the crew will return to Earth before the final burn is initiated by station operators. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into a remote ocean area, minimizing risks to people and property, instead of allowing the station to descend uncontrolled from low Earth orbit at the conclusion of its operational life.
Russia and the United States are also preparing to draft a bilateral agreement that will clarify the responsibilities of Roscosmos and NASA during the deorbit process. NASA describes the safe disposal as a joint obligation involving five agencies operating the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. The existing program specifies the combination of vehicles used, while the upcoming bilateral document will detail operational responsibilities for both Russian and U.S. agencies throughout the multi-stage disposal procedure. No crew members are expected to stay aboard during the final re-entry burn, according to NASA’s published decommissioning sequence.
NASA Establishes $1.2 Billion Budget for U.S. Deorbit Vehicle Initiative
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and supply the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. This decision followed assessments that concluded the current station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft lacked enough margin for the planned controlled re-entry. According to a July 2026 assessment from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This amount includes the reported $843 million contract with SpaceX, future procurement of the launch vehicle, and NASA workforce expenses to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle’s readiness for delivery is targeted for October 2028, with launch scheduled for mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, equipped for rendezvous and docking, with a larger trunk that carries the propulsion system necessary for descent. The GAO reports that design modifications have included updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk. The plan is for the vehicle to dock with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and stay attached through the final phase. NASA will retain ownership and operational control, while the agency’s Launch Services Program will handle procurement of the rocket needed for launch and transit to the station.
Enhanced Propulsion Capabilities in the Modified Dragon
Since its assembly began in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. The station has an approximate mass of 430,000 kilograms, covers an area similar to a football field, and orbits at roughly 415 kilometers altitude. Its systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine station orientation. These interdependencies underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring extensive coordination among the participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that the agency is planning a review in 2027 to decide whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. NASA has noted that structural analyses support operation until 2028, with additional assessments planned for the period afterward. According to Roscosmos’s disclosed multinational program, orbital lowering begins in 2028 and continues for roughly two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean area.