MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Roscosmos, the Russian state space agency, has announced that its international partners have given the green light to a joint plan for controlling the re-entry of the International Space Station (ISS). This plan involves a coordinated deorbit process using two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle built by SpaceX. It establishes a shared framework for propulsion and navigation between Roscosmos and NASA, reinforcing the global partnership to ensure the safe and precise deorbiting of the station.
According to Roscosmos, the station’s descent will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit operation expected to span about two years. The process will integrate natural atmospheric drag, targeted altitude reductions via existing propulsion systems, and a final controlled re-entry maneuver. NASA’s publicly available transition plan specifies that crew members will return to Earth prior to the execution of the final burn. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into a remote ocean area, minimizing risks to people and property, and preventing an uncontrolled descent at the end of the station’s operational life.
In addition, Russia and the United States plan to develop a bilateral agreement to clarify responsibilities during the deorbit process. NASA emphasizes that the safe disposal of the station is a joint obligation shared by the five agencies operating it: 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 bilateral treaty will define operational responsibilities for Roscosmos and NASA throughout each stage of the deorbit procedure. Under NASA’s decommissioning sequence, no crew will be onboard during the final re-entry burn.
Russia and US Align on ISS Retirement Plans
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and supply the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, after evaluations revealed that the station’s existing 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 that NASA set a project cost baseline of $1.2 billion in February. This includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future procurement of launch vehicles, and NASA’s workforce expenses needed to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The target for vehicle delivery is October 2028, with launch scheduled for mid-2029.
The U.S.-built vehicle features a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft fitted with systems for rendezvous and docking, along with an enlarged trunk equipped with the necessary propulsion for descent. According to the GAO, design modifications include changes to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk. The plan involves docking the vehicle with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry, where it will stay attached through the final phase. NASA will be responsible for owning and operating the vehicle, while the agency’s Launch Services Program will separately arrange for the rocket needed to reach orbit and dock with the station.
Crew will evacuate prior to the final re-entry burn
Since its inception in 1998 and continuous human presence since November 2000, the International Space Station has become a massive orbital complex, with a mass of about 430,000 kilograms, spanning nearly the size of a football field, orbiting at roughly 415 kilometers altitude. Its systems are highly interconnected: propulsion, debris avoidance, and attitude control are managed by the Russian segment and Progress vehicles, while routine orientation adjustments are handled by U.S. gyroscopes. These interdependent systems underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring close coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule for transition aims at retiring the station and completing re-entry maneuvers in 2030. A June 2026 GAO report states that the agency is considering whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations beyond 2028, based on structural analyses supporting continued use through that year. Further evaluations are planned to address operations after 2028. Under the multinational program announced by Roscosmos, the orbital descent will begin in 2028 and last approximately two years, ending with a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris within a remote ocean area.