MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos confirmed that international partners have approved a joint flight configuration to guide the International Space Station (ISS) through a controlled re-entry. The coordinated retirement plan utilizes two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft alongside the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle built by SpaceX. The decision establishes a shared propulsion and navigation framework between Roscosmos and NASA, maintaining a unified international partnership to execute the safe, targeted deorbiting of the orbiting laboratory.
Roscosmos indicated that the station’s planned orbital lowering will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process anticipated to take around two years. This sequence will involve natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions utilizing existing propulsion systems, and a final precise re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition framework specifies that crew members will return to Earth prior to the final burn, which will be controlled by operators. The maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean area, reducing risks to people and property, rather than allowing the station to make an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of its operational life.
Both Russia and the United States are also working on a bilateral agreement outlining how Roscosmos and NASA will share responsibility during the operation. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a collective duty of the five agencies operating the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the program defines the vehicle configuration, the upcoming bilateral agreement will detail operational responsibilities for the Russian and U.S. agencies throughout the multi-stage deorbit process. No crew members are scheduled to be onboard during the final re-entry burn, in accordance with NASA’s decommissioning plan.
Russia and US Join Forces on ISS Retirement Strategy
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after studies revealed that the existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone lacked sufficient margin for a controlled re-entry. An assessment from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, published in July 2026, stated NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses necessary for certifying the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The project’s readiness for delivery is targeted for October 2028, with a planned launch in mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, fitted for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk containing the propulsion system required for descent. As reported by the GAO, design modifications include updates to the Dragon’s power system, added shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array configuration. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and will remain attached during the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, while its Launch Services Program will separately handle procurement of the rocket needed to place it into orbit and reach the station.
Crew Departure Prior to Final Re-Entry
Since beginning assembly in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence since November 2000. The station’s mass is around 430,000 kilograms, covering an area roughly equivalent to 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 maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine orientation. These interrelationships underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and require extensive coordination among participating agencies.
NASA’s current transition plan prioritizes the station’s decommissioning and re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report indicated the agency is considering an assessment in 2027 about whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations. Structural analyses support operating the station through 2028, with additional reviews to determine the feasibility beyond that date. According to the approved multinational deorbit plan disclosed by Roscosmos, the orbital lowering process begins in 2028 and will span roughly two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area.