MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Roscosmos, Russia’s national space agency, has confirmed that its international partners have given the green light for a joint mission to steer the International Space Station (ISS) into a planned re-entry. This coordinated deorbit plan involves the use of two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft along with the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, developed by SpaceX. The agreement creates a unified approach for propulsion and navigation between Roscosmos and NASA, reinforcing a global partnership aimed at ensuring the safe and precise deorbit of the space station.
The process to gradually lower the station’s orbit is set to commence in 2028, with estimates indicating that the entire deorbit operation could span about two years, according to Roscosmos. The method involves a combination of natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions through existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published plan emphasizes that crew members will evacuate the station before the final burn is initiated. This maneuver is designed to direct any remaining debris toward an uninhabited oceanic area, minimizing risk to people and property, rather than allowing the station to uncontrollably descend from low Earth orbit at the conclusion of its operational life.
Additionally, Russia and the United States plan to create a bilateral agreement outlining the responsibilities of Roscosmos and NASA during the deorbit process. NASA describes the safe disposal of the station as a shared obligation among the five agencies managing it: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the deorbit vehicle configuration is established by the program, the bilateral document will clarify operational accountability between the Russian and American agencies throughout the various stages of the deorbit operation. No crew will be onboard during the final re-entry burn, in accordance with NASA’s decommissioning plan.
Joint Effort Between Russia and U.S. to Manage Station’s Retirement
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, after studies revealed that the existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone did not provide enough 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. This figure includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement costs, and NASA workforce expenses needed to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The readiness for delivery is targeted for October 2028, with a planned launch around mid-2029 for the mission.
The U.S. vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, equipped for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk that provides the necessary propulsion system for descent. According to the GAO, design modifications have included updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array layout. The plan is for the vehicle to dock securely with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and remain attached until the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, while its Launch Services Program will be responsible for procuring the rocket needed to launch it into orbit and reach the station.
Preparations for Crew Evacuation Before Final Descent
Since beginning assembly in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained an uninterrupted human presence since November 2000. Its mass is approximately 430,000 kilograms, covering an area roughly the size of a football field, and it orbits in low Earth at about 415 kilometers altitude. The station’s systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress spacecraft supply propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation. These interconnected systems underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring meticulous coordination among the participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule aims for the station’s decommissioning and re-entry maneuvers to occur by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that the agency plans to assess in 2027 whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. The agency’s analysis suggests that the station can operate safely through 2028, with further evaluations planned to address operations beyond that point. Under the multinational plan disclosed by Roscosmos, the orbital lowering process begins in 2028 and continues for about two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean region.