Roscosmos has confirmed that all collaborating space agencies have officially approved the plan for the controlled shutdown of the International Space Station. According to this coordinated approach, two Russian Progress cargo ships along with a dedicated U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will oversee atmospheric re-entry procedures. This agreement ensures a balanced division of essential propulsion and navigation responsibilities between Russia and the U.S., marking the conclusion of decades of joint station operation under an integrated safety framework.
Roscosmos stated that the station’s descent from orbit will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process expected to span approximately two years. The planned sequence involves a combination of natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude reductions via existing thrusters, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. According to NASA’s published transition plan, the crew is expected to return to Earth before the execution of the final, large burn. This maneuver aims to direct residual debris into an uninhabited ocean region, minimizing risks to people and property, instead of allowing the station to undergo an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of its operational life.
Furthermore, Russia and the United States are preparing to formalize a bilateral agreement that will delineate responsibilities between Roscosmos and NASA during the deorbit operation. NASA describes the safe disposal of the station as a collective duty shared by the five agencies managing the ISS: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the overall vehicle configuration has been set, this bilateral document will specify operational accountability and coordination throughout the multi-stage deorbit procedure. No crew members will remain aboard during the final re-entry burn, as outlined in NASA’s decommissioning sequence.
NASA Establishes $1.2 Billion Budget for Deorbit Vehicle Development
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, after analyses indicated that the current station propulsion and Progress spacecraft systems alone lacked sufficient margin for the planned controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, published in July 2026, revealed that NASA established the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This figure encompasses the $843 million contract with SpaceX, future procurement of launch vehicles, and NASA workforce expenses necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle is scheduled for delivery readiness by October 2028, with a launch targeted for mid-2029 to support the mission.
The U.S. deorbit system combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft designed for rendezvous and docking with an enlarged trunk that carries the propulsion system required for descent. Design modifications include updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the solar array configuration on the trunk, as reported by the GAO. The vehicle is set to dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and will stay attached through the final phase. NASA will retain ownership and operational control, with its Launch Services Program responsible for procuring the rocket needed to place it into orbit and reach the station.
Enhanced Propulsion from the Modified Dragon Spacecraft
Since the assembly began in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained an uninterrupted human presence, starting from November 2000. The station’s mass is approximately 430,000 kilograms, covering an area comparable to a football field, orbiting at around 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are closely interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles supply reboosting, debris-avoidance maneuvers, and attitude control, while the U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation adjustments during standard operations. These interdependent systems form the basis of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, necessitating detailed coordination among participating agencies.
According to NASA’s current transition timeline, the focus is on retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report indicated that NASA plans to evaluate whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend the station’s operational life into 2028. Structural assessments support station operations through 2028, with additional reviews planned for the period thereafter. Under the multinational program disclosed by Roscosmos, orbital lowering will begin in 2028 and last approximately two years, ultimately ending in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote oceanic area.
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