MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos confirmed that global collaborators have approved a joint mission plan to guide the International Space Station (ISS) through a controlled descent. The plan involves two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle developed by SpaceX. This decision establishes a shared system of propulsion and navigation between Roscosmos and NASA, reinforcing the international cooperation needed for a safe and precise deorbit of the station.
The station’s descent will start in 2028. The process is expected to take around two years. Roscosmos explained that it will combine natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude adjustments with existing thrusters, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s transition plan states that the crew will return to Earth before the final burn is executed. The goal is to direct any remaining debris into a remote ocean area, reducing risks to people and property. This controlled approach prevents an uncontrolled fall from low Earth orbit once operations end.
Russia and the U.S. are also working on a bilateral agreement. This document will define how Roscosmos and NASA share responsibility during the deorbit process. NASA states that safe disposal is a joint duty among the five agencies managing the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. The program sets out the vehicle combination. Meanwhile, the bilateral agreement will specify operational responsibilities for each agency during the multi-stage deorbit. NASA’s published sequence states that no crew will stay onboard during the final re-entry burn.
Russia and US coordinate station decommissioning plan
In June 2024, NASA chose SpaceX to develop and supply the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. This followed studies revealing that existing station propulsion and Progress spacecraft alone could not ensure a controlled re-entry margin. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report from July 2026 states NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This includes the $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle purchases, and NASA workforce costs for certifying the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle’s delivery readiness is targeted for October 2028, with a launch planned for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft designed for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk carrying the descent propulsion system. The GAO reports that design modifications include changes to the Dragon’s power system, added shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration on the trunk. The plan calls for the spacecraft to dock with the station about 18 months before re-entry and stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, while its Launch Services Program will procure the rocket needed for the launch and reaching the station.
Crew will leave before final re-entry
The ISS started assembly in 1998 and has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000. It weighs about 430,000 kilograms and covers roughly the size of a football field. The station orbits at approximately 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are interconnected. The Russian segment and Progress spacecraft provide propulsion, reboosts, debris-avoidance, and attitude control. U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. These relationships form the basis of the joint deorbit plan, requiring careful coordination among the agencies involved.
NASA’s current schedule aims to retire the station and perform re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report indicates the agency plans a 2027 review on whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations. NASA’s analyses support operating through 2028, with additional reviews planned for beyond that. Under Roscosmos’s disclosed international plan, the orbital lowering begins in 2028 and lasts about two years. The process ends with a controlled atmospheric breakup, depositing debris into a remote ocean area.