Roscosmos has announced that all international space agency partners have formally approved the configuration for the controlled decommissioning of the International Space Station. The joint plan involves two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and a specialized U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to oversee atmospheric re-entry procedures. This operational agreement strikes a balance between essential propulsion and guidance responsibilities shared by Russia and the United States, bringing an end to decades of collaborative station management under a unified safety framework.
According to Roscosmos, the station’s gradual orbital descent will commence in 2028 and is projected to take around two years. The process will integrate natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude reductions via existing propulsion systems, and a final precise re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition plan specifies that the crew will return to Earth prior to the execution of the last large burn by station operators. This maneuver aims to direct remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean region and minimize risks to people and property, rather than allowing the station to uncontrolledly fall from low Earth orbit at the end of its operational lifespan.
Furthermore, Russia and the United States plan to create a bilateral agreement outlining how Roscosmos and NASA will share responsibilities during this process. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a joint obligation among 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 specifies the combination of vehicles involved, the forthcoming bilateral document will detail operational accountability between Russian and U.S. agencies throughout each stage of the deorbiting process. Under NASA’s current decommissioning plan, no crew members will remain aboard during the final re-entry burn.
NASA Establishes $1.2 Billion Budget for Deorbit Vehicle Development
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to design and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after studies indicated that the station’s current propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft lacked sufficient margin for controlled re-entry. An assessment published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in July 2026 revealed NASA had set a project cost baseline of $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes the reported $843 million contract with SpaceX, future expenses for launch vehicle procurement, and NASA’s workforce costs to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The project aims for delivery readiness by October 2028, with launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle features a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft modified for rendezvous and docking, combined with an enlarged trunk that provides the necessary propulsion for descent. Design modifications include updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array configuration, as detailed by the GAO. It is scheduled to dock with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and will stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, with its Launch Services Program procuring the rocket needed to launch it into orbit and reach the station complex.
Enhanced Propulsion Capabilities of the Modified Dragon
Since its assembly began in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000. It has a mass around 430,000 kilograms, spans an area comparable to a football field, and orbits at approximately 415 kilometers altitude. The station’s systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide reboost, debris-avoidance maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine station orientation. These interdependent relationships underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and necessitate detailed coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current plan emphasizes retiring the station and conducting re-entry maneuvers in 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that the agency is considering a 2027 review to decide whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. Analyses suggest that station operations could continue through 2028, with subsequent evaluations addressing the period beyond that. Under the multinational program disclosed by Roscosmos, the orbital lowering process begins in 2028 and spans about two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup aimed at depositing debris into a remote ocean area.
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